SELF-STYLED "GOOD GUY" FINED FOR FLY TIPPING OFFENCES

A REPEAT fly tipper who described himself as a "good guy in the community" will have to pay more than £2k after being caught in three separate dumping offences.

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston today welcomed the action taken by Middlesbrough Council and the tough sentencing of the courts.

Mr Preston described the fly tipping incidents as "disgraceful" and amounted to an "assault on our communities".

Teesside Magistrates' Court heard how witnesses had seen Mark Williams, then of Dalcross Court, Hemlington, committing three fly tipping offences.

The court was told these had occurred at Maria Street in North Ormesby, Albert Road in the town centre and Cresswell Close in Hemlington in the middle of 2019 and the matters were reported to Middlesbrough Council's Environmental Enforcement team.

When interviewed Williams admitted owning the white van used in the incidents and accepted he did not have a waste disposal licence.

Asked what he did for a living, Williams replied: "I'm just a handyman basically, I do a lot of charity work, I do a lot of unpaid work - basically I'm a good guy in the community."

In court he pleaded guilty to three offences under the Environmental Protection Act.

He was given a fine of £668 with a £67 victim surcharge and ordered to pay costs of £1,283.32 were awarded making a total of £2,018.32.

After the case Mr Preston said: "These acts were disgraceful and the pictures show what I'd call an assault on our communities.

"No-one should have to live in an area that gets stuff just dumped outside their homes and I want to thank the witnesses who have supplied information to our team.

"That has allowed us to bring the person responsible to justice and hopefully the fine given by the court will make this person and others think again before doing something like this."

ENDS

Press Notice 6555. 01/07/21

Issued by Andrew Pain, Senior Communications Officer on 01642 729503.

www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

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