A fly-tipper has been sent to prison after admitting illegally dumping waste in a rural lane.

Harris Dadd, previously of Hemel Hempstead, was jailed for 24 weeks for the fly-tipping offence in Markyate, reduced to 14 weeks. He was also handed a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order, restricting his activities in relation to carrying or disposing of waste. If breached, this could result in further imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £152.

Dadd, appeared before St Albans Magistrates' Court for sentencing on February 11, after pleading guilty at a previous hearing to the unauthorised deposit of controlled waste in Pepsal End Lane, Markyate.

The court heard an Environmental Enforcement Officer responded to a report of fly-tipping in a country lane on January 3, 2025, which included several pieces of broken and dismantled furniture, mattresses, carpets, appliances, and other household waste that was strewn alongside the road.

The rubbish was fly-tipped in Pepsal End Lane, Markyate.

placeholder image — The rubbish was fly-tipped in Pepsal End Lane, Markyate.

Following investigations, a vehicle was traced back to the defendant and seized several weeks later. Despite repeated attempts to engage with the defendant no responses were received with Dacorum Borough Council disposing of the vehicle.

The court heard Dadd was previously In 2023 for a similar fly-tipping offence. On that occasion, he was ordered to pay a fine of £930, costs of £900 and a victim surcharge of £373.

Councillor Robin Bromham, our Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Operations, said: “This is a successful day in the battle against fly-tippers. Throughout Dacorum, we maintain a zero-tolerance approach to environmental crime, in particular fly-tipping.

“Our Environmental Enforcement Officers work hard to visit every reported incident of fly-tipping in the borough, gathering evidence and investigate, where possible, where it came from and who was responsible for dumping it.

“It is essential for householders to check the waste carrier licence when employing someone to remove and dispose of their rubbish and keep relevant paperwork, such as receipts. Failing to do so could lead to prosecution even if it is someone else who fly-tipped their waste.”

If you see fly-tipping, report it via the council’s fly-tipping online reporting tool.

You can check if a business or individual has a waste carrier's licence on the Environment Agency website.