Press release: Plymouth trio banned from waste trade for fly-tipping around Cornwall

Three men from the Plymouth area have been banned from the waste trade for fly-tipping in Cornish beauty spots.

Wayne Plummer, of Burrator Avenue, Princetown, Ashley Brown, of Tollox Place, Plymouth and Michael Baggally, of Wolseley Road, Plymouth, were all given Community Orders requiring 100 hours of work after admitting the illegal deposit of household, industrial and commercial waste and not being registered waste carriers.

They dumped waste, including old sofas and carpets, in scenic locations, even setting fire to it on one occasion.
All 3 were ordered to pay £520 compensation and given a Criminal Behaviour Order for 5 years, preventing them from being involved in the waste business.

Baggallay, who had his hearing for sentencing adjourned pending a mental health assessment to establish his fitness for work, appeared at Plymouth Magistrates Court on Monday 23 April 2018. Plummer and Brown were both sentenced on 10 April 2018.

The prosecution followed a joint investigation between the Environment Agency, which took the lead role, South Hams Council, Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council and Devon and Cornwall Police.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency, said:

This criminal behaviour was premeditated and planned and the environmentally-sensitive locations were chosen by the defendants for their remoteness in order to better escape detection.

A spokesperson for South Hams District Council, where some of the waste was tipped, said:

I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with the Environment Agency and other local authorities to secure a conviction in this instance.

I hope this sends a message that fly-tipping will absolutely not be tolerated, and we will prosecute offenders.

On 2 November 2016, Cornwall Council was alerted to fly-tipping in the car park at Cremyll on the Rame Peninsula that included sofas and carpets. Further offences followed in January 2017 at Little Lane in Bovisand and two days later near Torpoint.

The final offence happened at Hooe Road in Plymstock when waste was dumped on a public footpath and set on fire. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue attended.

Evidence found at 3 sites linked the waste to all 3 men. The total clean-up cost was more than £5,000.

Note to the Editor:

Businesses and members of the public have a duty of care to ensure that their waste is properly dealt with. They should always check that the company removing their waste is registered as a waste carrier and ask for evidence it will be properly dealt with. Always ask for a receipt. If a waste collection company can’t satisfy you on this, don’t employ them. These simple steps can stop fly-tippers in their tracks.