Fly-tipper sentenced following prosecution by council
Lichfield District Council has prosecuted a West Midlands man after a road in Burntwood was blocked by waste that he’d fly-tipped.
Lee Mills, of Railswood Drive in Pelsall, appeared before Cannock Magistrates’ Court on 7 January 2025 having pleaded guilty to a series of waste, scrap metal and fraud offences.
The court heard that in June 2024 drivers reported the incident in Nether Lane, Burntwood to Lichfield District Council, and environmental health officers were sent to investigate and found that the dumped material included asbestos.
The officers traced items found within the waste to four addresses, and enquiries revealed that Mills had been paid to dispose of waste from each of them. Mills had falsely claimed to be a registered waste carrier and a licensed scrap metal dealer. The officers then swooped on Mills’ home in Pelsall and seized the vehicle he used to commit the offences. The vehicle was laden with more waste and scrap metal at the time it was taken.
The unemployed 51-year-old was sentenced to a 12 month community order, requiring 200 hours of unpaid work, along with a fine of £114 and costs of £1,500. The magistrates ordered that he forfeit the vehicle used to commit the offences.
After sentencing, Cabinet member Councillor Alex Farrell said: “We’re delighted with the outcome of this prosecution and hope that this sends a warning to anyone thinking of coming into our beautiful district to fly-tip waste. The penalties are severe – imprisonment, community service, fines, driving disqualification, forfeiture of the vehicle and a criminal record. Our environmental health officers will come after you, wherever you live.”
