Man fined for dumping waste in Burghclere following Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council investigation

A man has been ordered to pay £1,404 by magistrates after he was seen dumping commercial waste on land in Burghclere.

Carlton Pike, of Westfield Court, Thatcham, was prosecuted by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council following an investigation into a fly-tipping incident that occurred in 2019.

On April 12, Mr Pike was seen dumping green waste, soil and plastic packaging from his van on Well Street.

He pleaded guilty at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court to unlawfully depositing controlled waste.

At last week’s hearing on Tuesday, October 18, magistrates fined Mr Pike £640 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £64, a contribution of £225 towards the investigation costs, a contribution of £225 towards the prosecution costs and clean-up costs of £250.

He will also receive a criminal record for his actions.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet member for partnerships Jenny Vaux said: “This demonstrates to anyone who thinks they can get away with dumping waste in quiet lanes, or anywhere else for that matter, that they risk punishment.

"Witness evidence was crucial to the success of this case and we are really grateful for this support.

“As is so often the case, this trader was found on social media offering a service that was too good to be true.

“I would like to remind anyone looking for services to be very cautious and vigilant on who they employ. We are all responsible for what happens to our waste.

“Wherever you might find someone to take waste away, we all still have the responsibility to check they are legitimate and that the waste will be disposed of lawfully.

“We know that fly-tipping is an issue that our communities feel very strongly about. Every conviction we achieve means there is a stronger deterrent for those who may be tempted to engage in this kind of criminal behaviour.”

Offences of fly-tipping can carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.

Since May 2018, Basingstoke and Deane has convicted 48 individuals and companies for fly-tipping and related waste offences as part of the borough council’s continued zero tolerance approach to this type of environmental crime.