A man from Bilston has seen his van destroyed and been handed a bill totalling almost five thousand pounds after being convicted of fly-tipping in Wolverhampton.
Caught on Camera
Colin Fullard, of Glyn Avenue in Bilston, pleaded guilty to a fly-tipping charge under the Environmental Protection Act at Dudley Magistrates' Court. The offence occurred in May last year on land off Millfields Road in Ettingshall, where security cameras captured a Ford Transit flatbed van dumping a large quantity of waste, including furniture, bagged rubbish, and carpet.
Environmental crime officers from the City of Wolverhampton Council traced the vehicle through DVLA records, which showed Fullard as the registered keeper. Despite initial difficulties in locating the van, it was eventually seized. Investigators found it had been resprayed and customised with a different roof light and trim in an apparent attempt to disguise it.
Substantial Penalties Imposed
Fullard claimed in court that he was not driving the van at the time, stating he had lent it to a contact running a gardening business. However, he was still held responsible as the registered keeper.
The court handed down significant penalties:
- A 12-month community order.
- A requirement to complete 135 hours of unpaid work.
- A £1,000 remediation order for clean-up costs.
- Court costs of £3,626.
- A victim surcharge of £114.
This brought the total financial penalty to £4,740. District Judge Wheeler also issued a deprivation order for the vehicle, leading to its destruction.
A Strong Warning to Offenders
A spokesperson for the City of Wolverhampton Council explained the decision to destroy the van rather than sell it. "If the vehicle had been sold, any proceeds left following seizure and storage costs, would have to be returned to the keeper. This can mean money is given back to offenders," they said. They added that vehicles used in such crimes are often in poor condition and unsafe to donate.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services, stated: "We have used our powers to destroy the vehicle in this case to send a strong message to anyone thinking of carrying out this criminal activity... We will not hesitate to destroy the vehicles of those who use Wolverhampton as a dumping ground."
The council highlighted its multi-pronged approach to tackling fly-tipping, which includes drones, CCTV, and a successful 'Shop a Tipper' campaign. Under this scheme, residents can receive a £100 gift card if their information leads to a successful prosecution or Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). The standard FPN for fly-tipping in the city was also increased from £400 to £1,000 in January of this year.
Defra statistics show that while fly-tipping is rising nationally, incidents are reducing in Wolverhampton. Over the past decade, the council has issued 330 FPNs, carried out 58 prosecutions, and seized 24 vehicles.
Residents are encouraged to report fly-tipping by calling 01902 552700 or visiting the council's website. Household waste can be disposed of free of charge at the Anchor Lane and Shaw Road Household Waste and Recycling Centres, which are open seven days a week.
