Fly-tippers punished after van loaded with rubble and tarmac spotted by passer-by
Fly-tippers who dumped a van-load of rubble and tarmac have been punished after they were spotted by a passer-by.
Amritpal Kang and his brother-in-law Boota Sahota have been forced to pay more than £3000-worth of financial penalties after the were caught illegally dumping the waste.
It comes after a member of the public spotted the waste being loaded into the back of a van at Kang's Wolverhampton property, before it was dumped in a farmer's gateway in Trysull Holloway.
South Staffordshire Council deputy leader Councillor Roger Lees, who is also cabinet member for regulatory services, said: "It is completely unacceptable to fly-tip and this case shows that members of the public care about fly-tipping.
"As a result of this witness coming forward and the hard work of the council’s enforcement team, the council was able to take formal action through the courts. The defendants are facing a bill of over £3,300 and now have criminal records.
“It’s dreadful to see waste being abandoned in our countryside. All householders and businesses have a duty of care to dispose of their waste responsibly and the council is working hard to stop those responsible for fly-tipping."
Both defendants admitted breaching environmental laws when they appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on February 25.
The witness told Staffordshire Police they spotted the loaded van in Wolverhampton's Langley Road and again an hour late in Trysull Holloway, where the contents were dumped on August 11 last year.
Council officers then investigated and managed to track down Kang, 53, and Sahota, 42.
Councillor Lees added: "We prosecute anyone who fly-tips and I’d encourage anyone who sees fly-tipping to report it using the council’s website.
“Bulky household waste such as sofas can be disposed of at local household recycling centres too and councils also offer a bulky waste collection service."
Kang was fined £853, ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge and £461.75 court costs.
Sahota, of Hollowood Avenue, Littleover, Derby, was handed a £1,333 fine, ordered to pay a £135 victim surcharge and £461.75 court costs.
