Five men convicted of flytipping in Downton
Covert cameras were used to gather evidence for the prosecution
Last updated 24th Nov 2022
Five men, who were part of an 'organised flytipping gang' have been convicted of dumping rubbish and burning waste illegally, at a site in Downton.
The group were prosecuted by Wiltshire Council, following a three month covert camera operation at Lode Hill.
Three defendants - Shane Griggs, of Bracken Road in North Baddesley; Jason Castle of Wellow Wood Road, West Wellow; and Daniel Whittaker, of Magnolia Walk in Abbotswood, Hampshire; have been convicted of flytipping with no environmental permit.
Luke Edwards of Verwood Road, Wimborne; and Michael Whittaker of Meadow Close, West Wellow; have been convicted of operating a regulated facility on land without an environmental permit.
Between them, the group have been fined a total of £14,500, at a hearing at Winchester Crown Court.
What happened?
The people prosecuted were part of various tree and landscaping firms, who were collecting waste.
They were filmed dumping that rubbish on an access road leading to the Lode Hill traveller site in Downton.
Much of what was left there was burnt, including green waste, general waste, carpet and even a fridge - causing environmental damage.
Public tip-offs were put in to Wiltshire Council, and their enforcement officers began an investigation.
Magistrates approved an operation to set up covert cameras to try and catch the offenders.
Wiltshire Police arrested the group, once evidence had been gathered.
The case was referred for trial to the Crown Court after the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Waste, said:
“This organised fly-tipping gang was prolific in destroying the local environment in this area. Not only were they avoiding lawful disposal costs by dumping this and not using approved waste sites, but they were also damaging the surrounding areas by burning waste including white goods, which gave off poisonous fumes.
“This successful prosecution is the result of many years of painstaking work by our environmental enforcement team. The team was tenacious in its pursuit of this gang, who claimed to have no involvement at the time. However, our ability to apprehend offenders by utilising cameras was key in proving that these people were the culprits in this long-running case.
“As set out in our business plan, we have committed to pursuing further prosecutions on fly-tipping, and to help with this we have invested significant funding into more cameras and more officers to catch these environmental criminals in the act throughout Wiltshire.
“Our message to any potential fly-tippers is clear: We’re Targeting Fly-tippers and we will prosecute anyone who thinks it is acceptable to dump their waste in our beautiful county.”