A van was left abandoned by three men after eyewitnesses saw them fly-tipping at a beauty spot.
An eyewitness spotted the van as waste was being dumped on Frodsham Marches in Cheshire and the incident was reported to police, CheshireLive reports. But officers seized the vehicle after it had been left by the group who were said to have ran off.
Appearing at Chester Magistrates Court, the owner of the van, Sean Fagan from Whitley Road said he allowed his three friends to use the vehicle, but they went on to use it to dump the rubbish at the beauty spot. But the prosecutor explained to the court that as the registered owner, he was to be treated as causing the fly-tipping.
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The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to an offence of fly-tipping under section 33(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 .He had his van confiscated and was also fined £150 and ordered to pay £490 prosecution costs.
Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said it was a "perfect example" of how the owner of a vehicle can be prosecuted and suspicions of fly-tipping can result in prosecution.
She added: "In this case it wasn’t alleged that the defendant was present on Frodsham Marshes when the incident occurred. Fly-tippers should also be aware that if they are caught fly tipping using a car, van or other vehicle, like in this case, the court can order the forfeiture of the vehicle.
"Please check anyone disposing of waste for you is a licensed waste carrier always be wary if you are approached by an individual to take your rubbish away. If you discover illegal tipping of waste or see it being tipped, report it 24 hours a day on the Council’s website or ‘Report It’ app."
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