Fly-tipper caught on camera prosecuted in court
Even under the cover of darkness criminals can still be caught and prosecuted as one fly-tipper found out earlier this month.
Nicolae Rotaru, 43 years of Granville Avenue, Slough, pleaded guilty to an offence of illegally dumping waste when he appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 22 June.
The Court heard that on 23 March 2021, a washing machine was found to have been dumped on Wexham Park Lane in Wexham. Buckinghamshire Council’s Enforcement Team carries out regular surveillance at the location due to the area being heavily blighted with fly-tipping.
On this occasion the surveillance camera recorded the suspect’s vehicle arriving in the night time and the driver was filmed fly-tipping the waste onto the ground. The vehicle was traced back to Nicolae Rotaru at a Slough address. Mr Rotaru attended an interview at Slough Police Station, where he reluctantly admitted to dumping the waste.
Magistrates fined Rotaru £403 and ordered him to pay clean up and investigation costs of £600. A victim surcharge of £41 was also levied – making a total to pay of £1,044.
Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment said: “People often think that carrying out a crime at night gives them more chance of not being caught. When it comes to fly-tipping in Buckinghamshire however, that is not true. Whatever time of day or night you choose to commit this selfish and thoughtless crime, we will be watching – and we will prosecute.
“We’ve said it many times before, and we’ll say it again: We will not tolerate needless fly-tipping in Buckinghamshire. We have excellent recycling facilities across the county, there is absolutely no excuse for dumping waste illegally.”
To report fly-tipping please use the Fix My Street form on our website – www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/fixmystreet
This case was investigated and prosecuted by Buckinghamshire Council. Since its inception the Enforcement Team have achieved well over 800 convictions for fly-tipping and related offences this has resulted in a significant saving to the Buckinghamshire taxpayer over the period, principally through reducing removal and disposal costs.
