Fly tippers found and fined

At Southend Magistrates Court on 13th April, Paul Shaw-Williams, of York Road , Southend, was fined £1,500, for illegal fly tipping, ordered to pay £335 prosecution costs and £470 clean up costs.  

The furniture was traced to Shaw-Williams who had been paid by a company to take it to a licensed tip, but failed to do so, and instead fly-tipped it at Maybrook.  

It cost Southend-on-Sea Borough Council £470 to have the huge mound of broken chairs and tables, cleared and disposed of legally.  

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Group Manager for Waste and Streetscene, Steven Crowther says: "This case demonstrates that we will take firm action against those who deliberately flout the law over fly tipping and waste disposal.

"Over the past 18 months, the Council's Street Scene Team has been working hard to educate and warn those responsible for indiscriminately dumping their rubbish.  

"Those who have failed to heed the warnings have been issued with £80 Fixed Penalty Notices, leading to court action if they fail to pay.  

"All cases taken to court have been successful, have led to fines - the highest being £1,131 - and victim surcharges.

"Businesses must dispose of their business waste lawfully and not put it out for with the household collection.  

"Within the last year the Council investigated 600 business waste incidents, gave appropriate warnings, issued 38 Fixed Penalty Notices, and instigated five successful court cases.  

"To build on this success the Street Scene team will be working in partnership with Police to conduct targeted patrols in Southend, to reduce litter, raise awareness, and promote individual responsibility."  

Recent penalties for non-payment of Fixed Penalty Notices for littering include:

• Fine of £438, costs of £120, and victim surcharge of £573.
• Two lots of fines of £175, costs of £105, and victim surcharge of £15

Among the outcomes of non-payment of Fixed Penalty Notices, for disposing of business waste illegally are:  

• Defendant pleaded not guilty and opted for his case to be heard at Crown Court. He was found guilty, fined £300, ordered to pay £700 costs and given a £15 victim surcharge.
• Another business defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £75, ordered to pay £75 costs, and a £15 victim surcharge.