Newbury boy and his father fined more than £2,000 for fly-tipping in Basingstoke

A Newbury teen and his father who illegally deposited household waste at a recycling site have to pay a combined total of £2,151.

The pair pleaded guilty at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on October 20.

The court heard that a member of the public witnessed the father and son park directly next to the recycling containers and deposit a large double mattress at the recycling site on Abbey Road, Basingstoke, back in February.

The witness saw Gabriel Gianetti, 19, and his father Ricardo Gianetti, from Basingstoke, 44, with the mattress secured to the roof of their car.

When the incident was reported to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, officers were able to trace the car back to the Gianetti family and the two men were interviewed about the incident.

The court ordered Ricardo to pay a fine of £800 and his son a fine of £615. The pair each had to pay victim surcharge, persecution costs and clear-up costs which brought their combined total to £2,151.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet member for recycling, waste and regulatory services Hayley Eachus said: “This prosecution serves as a reminder that dumping waste at recycling sites is considered fly-tipping and offenders will be prosecuted whenever possible.”

He added: “I am very grateful to the member of the public who reported this offence to the council and agreed to support our prosecution against these fly tippers.

“I hope that this case will encourage other witnesses to come forward and help the council tackle this antisocial and environmental crime.”

Since May 2018 the council has convicted 35 individuals and companies for fly-tipping, an offence that can carry a maximum of five years imprisonment at crown court.