A brazen flytipper who dumped 500 tyres which were then burned causing flights to be disrupted has been put behind bars, after police found him hiding under a bed in his flat.
Declan Clarke, 30, was illegally charging garage owners one or two quid to get rid of old tyres between June and November 2020.
He would then either dump the tyres on wasteland or they would be burned in Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire.
His illegal enterprise cost the taxpayer £130,000 for debris to be cleared up, with the burning of 51 tonnes of tyres and another 17 tonnes of household waste causing toxic plumes of smoke to engulf the area.
The smoke caused flights from Glasgow Airport to be cancelled on July 24 2020.
In a message dated November 18 2020 Clarke told a client "it's getting a bit hot to get rid of them."
Two days later was nicked after hiding under a bed at his home in Drumchapel when cops raided his flat.
Clarke was jailed on Tuesday for 11 months after pleading guilty to an environmental breach at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
The court heard that between June and August 2020 a large number of tyres were fly-tipped on wasteland near Aldi in Drumchapel.
In October 2020 around 500 tyres were dumped at Gartloch Farm, near Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire, and more were stashed there in November.
Wildlife cameras which have been installed on the land due to persistent flytipping, captured Clarke using a number of different hire vans dumping tyres there.
When police raided the home on November 20, 2020 they found a key for another hire van which was parked outside his flat and was found to be full of tyres.
The court was advised that on the evening of July 24 2020 much of the waste at Dalsetter Crescent, Drumchapel, was consumed by fire with smoke disrupting flights at Glasgow Airport.
Glasgow City Council cleansing staff believed the volume of waste was significantly reduced by the fire and cost was £7,245.16 to clear up.
The estimated cost of cleaning up Gartloch Farm is £120,000 and a further £2,800 to dispose of the remaining tyres.
Fiona Caldwell, Procurator Fiscal, Wildlife and Environment, said: "Fly tipping causes the public real and legitimate concern.
"It is criminal behaviour which creates an eyesore and is costly to clear up and one that the local council must often carry.
"Declan Clarke's deliberate and criminal action showed a lack of consideration for the environment and undermines legitimate waste management companies.
"There is no excuse for illegal dumping of waste and those who choose to engage in it will be brought to account for their actions."
