Fly-tipper prosecuted and ordered to pay £1.500
A fly-tipper has been ordered to pay £1,500 after allowing a large amount of waste to be dumped in a rural road in St Albans District.
St Albans City and District Council’s Environmental Enforcement team launched an investigation after alerted to the fly-tip and traced it to a restaurant in Central London.
Enquiries revealed that Taoufik Kouki had been hired by the business to dispose of the waste.
Interviewed under caution, he said that he had gone to a waste and recycling centre in Brent but was refused access.
He said he was then approached by two men who agreed to dispose of the waste in return for a £160 payment.
Kouki said he followed them in his van to St Albans before putting the waste on their vehicle.
He said he had been surprised to find it had been dumped on the roadside of Barley Mow Lane, near Colney Heath.
Kouki, of Hanover Road, London, denied failing to check that the waste carriers he employed had the necessary licence, a duty of care offence under the Environmental Protection Act.
He was found guilty after a trial by District Judge Aneeta Borwick at St Albans Magistrates Court on Thursday 20 March.
Kouki was fined £300 and told to pay a victim surcharge of £120 along with a contribution to the Council’s legal costs of £1.080.
Chris Traill, the Council’s Strategic Director for Community and Place Delivery, said after the hearing:
I am pleased that our Environmental Enforcement team traced and successfully prosecuted another fly-tipper.
It is a further demonstration of our commitment to take action against fly-tippers and deter others from carrying out this crime.
Fly-tipping is an antisocial criminal offence and there is no excuse for it. Fly-tips are not only unsightly but are a potential health hazard and are costly to clear up.
Once again, we would also warn people who are clearing a house or other property that they must ensure their waste carrier has a proper licence and obtain a receipt. You leave yourself open to a duty of care offence if you don’t do that.
Photo: the Barley Mow Lane fly-tip.
Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727- 819533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.