Fly-tippers ‘will be found and prosecuted’

PEOPLE who illegally dump rubbish in West Yorkshire are being warned that they will be tracked down and put before the courts.

The latest council to take on the fly-tippers is Wakefield, which is now reminding fly-tippers that it will take tough action to deter others.

Earlier this week the council brought a successful prosecution against a Leeds resident for tipping garden waste in Wakefield.

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Mark Andrew Topham, 29, of Royal Grove, Middleton, Leeds, was given 100 hours’ community service and ordered to pay clean up costs of £548 after pleading guilty to illegally tipping waste in Lawns Lane, Wakefield, in June last year.

He appeared before a District Judge sitting at Wakefield Magistrates’ Court who heard the action brought by Wakefield Council.

The court was told that an off-duty police officer spotted two men removing rubbish from the back of a truck and dumping it in the centre of Lawns Lane at Lofthouse, blocking the road with a six-foot high pile of bin bags, which were then set alight.

The fire brigade were called and, with Wakefield Council officers, removed the rubbish to the roadside to allow access. The owner of the truck was tracked down and prosecuted, appearing in court on Wednesday this week.

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Coun Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “This was a significant incident which completed blocked the road in an area where people enjoy walking.

“It needed attention by the police, fire brigade and Council and it is simply just unacceptable, particularly as the offender lives in Leeds and came into Wakefield to tip the rubbish.

“I am delighted that the court took this seriously and handed out a substantial penalty which backs up our strong message that we will not tolerate fly-tipping in this district.”

In Wakefield, fly-tipping should be reported on 0845 8 506 506.