Enforcement Officers from the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP), working alongside Dorset Council’s Legal team, have secured another successful prosecution of a fly-tipper.
On Wednesday 21 August 2019, Anthony Maurice Knowles, (41, from Weymouth) appeared at Poole Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to two instances of fly-tipping and a further two matters under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act of failing to contain waste.
Last year, the Dorset Waste Partnership investigated several fly-tipping reports of building materials being illegally dumped in and around the Dorset Close and Wiltshire Avenue areas of Westham, Weymouth.
The Enforcement Team also received a report that a local resident (Knowles) had appeared to have started renovation works and was seen to remove construction waste from the rear of his property using a green wheelie bin. Construction waste was then discovered in an alleyway nearby.
Subsequently, Enforcement Officers visited the defendant’s home address to serve papers requiring him to attend an interview at the Trading Standards Offices in Dorchester. Despite the papers being posted through the letter box, there was no contact from the defendant and he did not attend the interview.
On 15 October 2018, Enforcement Officers were again alerted to two further fly-tips in the area, which contained waste attributable to Knowles. The next day, Enforcement Officers returned to Knowles’ property and attempted to speak to him. Following a sustained period of threats and violence from the defendant, the Police were called. However, Knowles left the scene before they arrived.
On 2 November, Knowles was arrested at his home address by Dorset Police for several matters, including fly-tipping, and placed in custody. In interview, he denied any fly-tipping or having received the papers requiring him to attend the interview at the Trading Standards offices.
On 26 November, DWP Enforcement Officers received another report from an Aster Housing staff member who had witnessed Knowles again moving waste away from his home in a wheelie bin. A large amount of household waste was subsequently discovered on land adjacent to the Community Centre in Dorset Close. Officers found a substantial amount of household waste at the scene, some of which was identical to some that had been photographed in the rear garden of his home address.
The case against Knowles has now been adjourned until 16 October at Poole Magistrates Court for sentencing. However, Knowles must appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on 4 October for sentencing for several CPS matters (two of which are linked to this case as they relate to offences against the DWP’s Enforcement Officers) and the Court will be invited to consider sentencing for these additional four linked matters as well.
Cllr Tony Alford, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Customer, Community and Regulatory Services, said:
“This is another great example of partnership working by the Dorset Waste Partnership with other agencies, including Dorset Police, Aster Housing and Dorset Council Legal services.
Fly-tipping is a crime, costing the Dorset taxpayer thousands of pounds every year. We will not tolerate the actions of those who illegally dump waste and we certainly won’t accept threatening or aggressive behaviour toward our Enforcement Officers.
You can find out how you can help us in the fight against fly-tipping by visiting www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/tip-off”
Congratulations to all involved in investigating Fly-Tipping. And for getting results at court.
Does the Council Barrister apply to the relevant Court to reclaim, from the perpetrator, the cost of clearing up?
Very pleased that Anthony Maurice Knowles has been caught Fly Tipping and sentenced to prison. Well done.
However, if I understand correctly, he will not actually go to prison as all his sentence has been commuted!
He will just try harder not to be caught the next time. VM