Jailed: Thirteen months for persistent fly-tipper caught on CCTV
A fly-tipper has been jailed for 13 months after he was caught on CCTV illegally dumping rubbish on three separate days.
James Michael McCann, aged 47, was also ordered to pay £1,537 compensation to Birmingham City Council.
McCann, of Claerwen Grove, in Northfield, Birmingham, was captured dumping waste on Wolseley Drive, in Ward End, on September 2, 3 and 6, 2019.
He pleaded guilty to four offences at Birmingham Crown Court, including illegally disposing of waste.
Two offences related to failing to comply with environment law, and the other was engaging in a misleading commercial practice.
McCann was convicted after a successful prosecution by the council, thanks to the CCTV evidence.
The court heard that two Ford Transit vans were involved in the fly-tipping incidents, both pulling trailers.
Building works
The vans were found less than three weeks later at an address in St Agatha’s Road, Washwood Heath, and subsequently seized by the council.
The vehicles were being used by McCann while carrying out building works at a property.
It emerged that the customer was being deceived and misled about his business, and McCann was arrested by police on October 10, 2019.
After his arrest, McCann failed to respond to a statutory demand notice requiring details about his business and how he disposed of rubbish.
During the case, the court was told McCann accepted being involved in carrying out work at a property in Birmingham, and that he disposed of the waste deliberately.
Alongside his prison sentence, the two vans will either be sold - with proceeds going to the council to support fly-tipping work - or destroyed, if the vehicles are not road-worthy.
Birmingham councillor John O’Shea, cabinet member for street scene and parks, said: "I hope this case sends out the clear message that we have given through past prosecutions – environmental crime is a crime against everyone in this city and will not be tolerated.
"Where we have credible evidence, we will – and do – prosecute.
"Fly-tipping is a drain on our resources, which could be better used in other ways to keep Birmingham clean and green.
"I would urge anyone with any information on any incident to contact us."
