Plymouth man £4,000 out of pocket after fly-tipping garden waste

-Credit:SHDC
-Credit:SHDC


A Plymouth man caught fly-tipping garden waste on the border of Plymouth and South Hams has been left more than £4,000 out of pocket after the two councils took him to court.

Steven Hawken - director of Ace Plant Hire - and his company appeared at Plymouth Crown Court on Wednesday after South Hams District Council, working in partnership with Plymouth City Council, chose to prosecute him for dumping a pile of garden waste in Vinery Lane, Plymouth.

The court heard how on April 14, 2023, an Ace Plant Hire flatbed truck, driven by Hawken, tipped the garden waste on the land at Vinery Lane, , which falls within the South Hams District boundary, with no environmental permit.

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At a hearing held at Plymouth Crown Court on December 17, 2024, Ace Plant Hire and GroundWork Services Ltd and Mr Steven Hawken both pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste on land in respect of which no environmental permit was in force.

At the sentencing hearing Ace Plant was ordered to pay a fine of £100, with compensation of £100 to South Hams District Council for the clearance of waste, with 30 days to pay.

Hawken was ordered to pay a fine of £2,000, with compensation to South Hams District Council of £100, and costs of £2,000, with 12 months to pay or 3 months’ imprisonment if he defaults on the Order.

Cllr Victor Abbott, South Hams District Council’s Lead Executive Member for Community Services; Operations and Leisure, said "We’re committed to coming down hard on people who disregard the environment and fly tip.

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"I hope this successful prosecution sends a strong message out to anyone tempted to illegally dump their waste that we will take action. Fly-tipping spoils the environment for everyone and can be a danger to children, pets, and wildlife.

"I am pleased that South Hams and Plymouth Councils were able to work together to bring these successful prosecutions and hope it acts as a deterrent for the benefit of our communities and local environment."