Posted on: Friday 13 December 2024
A serial fly-tipper has been sentenced following action taken by three Gwent councils.
Stewart Evans, of Newport, had pleaded guilty to twelve counts of fly-tipping between January 2023 and May 2024. Evans was previously convicted of fly-tipping offences in 2022, after which he lost his waste carriers licence.
A joint operation between Torfaen County Borough Council, Newport City Council, and Monmouthshire County Council was conducted into Mr Evans’s offences, which included:
- Dumping domestic waste at North Pontypool Business Centre in December 2023
- Dumping a large quantity of construction waste at Fairhill, Cwmbran in May 2024
- Dumping household waste and fridge freezers in Wentwood forest
- Dumping large amounts of household waste at locations in New Inn, Abersychan, Pwll Ddu Mountain, and Ringland Shopping Centre
- Dumping waste in Brangwyn Crescent, Newport
- Dumping waste in a commercial waste bin in Caerleon
Mr Evans was using his personal Facebook profile to advertise his business, which saw him charge between £50 - £200 per removal, before dumping waste illegally in those locations.
He was granted conditional bail by a judge at a hearing about the case on the 13th of September. As part of the conditions of his bail, Mr Evans was required not to transport any controlled waste.
Mr Evans was then found to be advertising waste removal services on Facebook just a few weeks after his bail was set.
The council successfully applied to the Crown Court to have Mr Evans’ bail conditions reviewed, and as a result of this he was remanded into custody on the Friday 4 October to await his sentencing.
At his sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday, Mr Evans was handed a 30-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
He was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, pay a victim surcharge of £187, and was made the subject of an interim criminal behaviour order.
A full criminal behaviour order, as well as financial penalties and costings to each of the councils involved, will be set at a further hearing early next year.
Commenting on the sentencing, Councillor Mandy Owen, Executive Member for the Environment, said: “Fly-tipping is a serious environmental crime and costs taxpayers a significant amount to clean up. It not only looks unsightly, but can be potentially dangerous, especially to children and animals, and has a detrimental effect on our environment.
“This case demonstrates that we and our neighbouring councils do not tolerate fly-tipping and will take robust action against those found to be responsible.
“I hope this prosecution sends a clear message that those who engage in such irresponsible behaviour can face serious consequences.
“I would like to offer my thanks for the hard work and dedication of officers involved in bringing this case before the Courts and achieving a successful outcome.”
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