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Old 17-02-2004, 12:27 AM
martin
 
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Default Grass fly-tipper hit hard in pocket

Grass fly-tipper hit hard in pocket

wince?

http://www.seriousaboutnews.co.uk/bo...&storyID=12596
DUMPING grass in a field led to a man getting a criminal record and a
£600 bill.

Brian Angel, of Woodland Drive, Kettering, pleaded guilty to
fly-tipping on land off the A428 near Turvey on April 18, 2003. Mr
Angel was accused of emptying a wheely bin full of grass and hedge
cuttings on to land at Moat Farm.

The Environment Agency prosecuted Mr Angel using £1,470 of taxpayers
money was used to secure a conviction.

Bedford magistrates gave Mr Angel a conditional discharge for 12
months and ordered to him pay £600 costs.

Officers from the Environment Agency did not think the magistrates had
been severe enough as they were hoping for a heavier penalty such as a
fine. After the sentence investigating officer Ian Favell said: "We
need to make it clear to members of the public that fly-tipping is not
acceptable and we will prosecute. Fly-tipping costs the taxpayer
thousands of pounds a year."

The defence said questions should be raised about how appropriate a
case costing £1,470 is when the waste involved is biodegradable.
Defence solicitor Daniel Siong described the waste dumped as
'trivial'. He went on to point out that the offence had been
impulsive. He said: "Mr Angel was travelling with his two sons to his
sisters in Marston Moretaine to deliver Easter eggs. He pulled into a
lay by on the A428 so that his two-year-old son could go to the
lavatory. There is no suggestion that the act was premeditated."

Leaving court Mr Angel said: "At the end of the day it's the court's
decision but I'm not happy with it."

Magistrate, Robert Balchin, said: "We take a dim view of fly-tipping.
When it occurs it attracts further fly-tipping."

--

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit;
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad