Flytipper Fined and Banned from Driving

A South Tyneside man has been ordered to pay £200 and carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work after he was caught on camera fly tipping.

Jonathan Rickaby, of Hopkins Walk, South Shields, was also banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95.

South Tyneside Council took legal action against the 41-year-old after obtaining CCTV footage of him dumping tree waste behind a shop in East Boldon on 18 July 2020.

Environmental enforcement officers had previously received several tip-offs that Rickaby was picking up waste for cash and dumping it. He was warned that if he was witnessed fly tipping, he would be prosecuted.

Rickaby appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates Court earlier this week and was prosecuted under Section 33 of the Environment Act.

The vehicle he used in the offence was seized and later destroyed.

Cllr Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety, said: "This conviction should serve as a reminder that we will always pursue legal action against offenders and there are very real consequences; in this case the offender was not only fined and ordered to do unpaid work, but his vehicle was also destroyed."

"Fly tipping is an eyesore, blights our communities and is extremely costly to clean up.

"We are absolutely committed to tackling this issue and, as in this case, members of the public can help by being our eyes and ears and reporting any incidents to the council so we can investigate.

"Together we can help keep our communities clean, green and safe for everyone to enjoy."

The Council spends more than £2m a year keeping the Borough clean and tidy, with the illegal disposal of waste placing an additional burden on taxpayers.

To report fly-tipping contact South Tyneside Council's Customer Contact Centre on (0191) 427 7000. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence. Alternatively Report It online via the Council's website at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/reportit

Further information about the safe and responsible disposal of waste can also be found at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling