Walsall Council have successfully prosecuted Andrew Aulton of Stafford Road, Cannock for failing to assist in an investigation into Flytipping, leading him to receiving fines and costs totalling £4,632.81.
Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court heard that hidden cameras used at the scene of the incident on Norton Road, captured two incidents of Flytipping in October and November 2018. On both occasions the same vehicle, registered to Mr Aulton, was used to dump garden waste, car parts and other rubbish.
Mr Aulton failed to attend council offices on two separate occasions, despite being served notice to attend by officers from Walsall Council’s Community Protection Team requiring him to assist with investigations into the offences.
Councillor Gary Perry, Portfolio holder for Communities, Leisure and Culture said, ‘Failure to comply with statutory notices is an offence, whether or not Mr Aulton was responsible for the actual dumping of the waste. Fly-tipping is a blight on our borough and costs in the region of £500k each year to clean up. Legislation that enables officers to investigate and prosecute in this way is a key tool to ensure offenders are brought to justice. This is the first prosecution in Walsall under these powers and we will continue to use them where vehicle owners obstruct officers in their investigations.’
The Magistrates heard the matter in the absence of Mr Aulton as he failed to attend court. They stated that these were very serious offences and fined him £3000 with an additional £1202.81 contribution to the costs of the investigation and prosecution, £280 towards the clean-up of the site and £150 victims’ surcharge.
