Failure to help with fly-tipping investigation lands man in court
A Southampton man ended up in court earlier this month and was ordered to pay £240 after failing to assist Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) with a fly-tipping investigation.
In January 2020, TVBC received reports of a large fly-tip on Foxes Lane, Wellow.
The waste consisted of carpets, a divan bed, a fridge, construction waste, a table, a white door, wooden shelving, metal gates, plaster board and a vast quantity of general household items and furniture.
A council officer found evidence that the waste had originated from an address in Southampton. They contacted the landlord who advised that he had instructed his handyman to employ a contractor to clear the waste.
The handyman had seen a vehicle collecting scrap locally and arranged for the driver to meet him at the property.
The driver visited the property on 11 January and arranged a price with the landlord over the phone. He removed the contents of the house on the same day.
The landlord later received a telephone call confirming the job was complete and he was asked to transfer £400 into an account in the name of Mr Connor Dashwood. The waste was dumped either that night or early the next morning.
TVBC invited Mr Dashwood, 27, of Carlisle Road, Southampton, to an interview under caution on 7 July 2022, which he failed to attend.
On 11 October 2022, the council issued a legal notice requiring him to assist with the fly-tipping investigation, but Mr Dashwood did not respond.
On Monday 13 February at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, Dashwood pleaded guilty to failing to respond to the legal notice. He was ordered to pay a £100 fine, £40 victim surcharge and £100 costs.
Portfolio holder for environmental services, Councillor Nick Adams-King, said:
“If someone chooses not to assist with a fly-tipping investigation, regardless of whether they were responsible for the fly-tip itself, we will take them to court. We will not tolerate fly-tipping in Test Valley and will investigate and prosecute anyone with a connection to the crime. Our prosecution record is testament to that.”