Two brothers helped clear up a case of fly-tipping in more ways than one when they recognised the dumped rubbish they had been employed to remove from Liphook woodland had come from their late grandmother’s home.
Working on behalf of East Hampshire District Council, the brothers, who do not wish to be named, had been tasked with cleaning up the tip in Weavers Down but were surprised to find they recognised many of the items left there, including a distinctive blue and cream painted door, wallpaper, a bedstead and an old sign.
By pin-pointing the origin of the waste to East Hampshire District Council investigators the information they gave helped bring about the conviction of two men who played a part in the crime.
Paul New (51), of Havant Road, Farlington, and Shane Bray (25), of Longmoor Road, Liphook, were convicted at Aldershot Magistrates Court for their parts in the fly-tip.
In October 2012 New cleared a property in Collyers Crescent, Liphook, as part of work contracted by Radian Housing Association and had paid Bray £120 to take away the waste.
Neither New nor Bray had a written description of the waste, as stipulated by law, and New did not check to see Bray had an authorised waste carrier’s licence.
New, who was convicted on 3 October 2013, was fined £600 and ordered to pay £200 prosecution costs. He explained that he knew the rules for disposing of waste but on this occasion he had been too busy to comply with them.
On the 14 November 2013, Bray pleaded guilty to the same charges and was fined £110 and ordered to pay £100 towards the council’s prosecution costs. He told the court he paid £80 to someone he only knew as ‘Paul’ to take the waste from him but could not explain how the waste came to be tipped at Weavers Down, Liphook.
District Judge Phillip Gillibrand told Bray on sentencing that: “Disgraceful fly-tipping wrecks our countryside. We are all entitled to it. We do not want anybody abusing our countryside in this way. I hope this is the first and last time you commit such an offence.”
Jo Edwards, EHDC Contracts Monitoring Officer, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on the beautiful countryside of East Hampshire, not only is it unsightly but it also poses a danger to people, animals and the environment. A number of fly tips contain hazardous waste such as asbestos or chemicals.
“Fly-tippers need to know that we will investigate all fly-tips and prosecute whenever we can, whatever their involvement in the crime. Paul New and Shane Bray were guilty of not following the correct disposal procedure for the waste which led to it being dumped in woodland.
“Please ensure whenever you dispose of waste you use a reputable company with an environmental permit or waste carrier licence and also get a receipt, showing description of the waste and where it’s come from and the disposal point. We can stop this vile crime if we all work together.
To report a fly tip please call customer services on 0300 300 0013.”
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