Man ordered to pay almost £2k for dumping waste in an alleyway

A MAN has been ordered to pay nearly £2,000 by Tameside magistrates after he was found guilty of flytipping in an alleyway near to his home.

The court heard that on 23 July 2023, Tameside Council enforcement officers responded to complaints of fly tipping in a hot spot area – an alleyway to the rear of Kings Road and Kenworthy Avenue, Ashton.

Officers found bags of household waste, a number of cardboard boxes and various other bulky items. This waste was traced to Enio Freitas of Queen Street, Ashton - at the time of the offence Mr Freitas was living at Kenworthy Avenue, Ashton.

Mr Freitas was offered the opportunity to pay a fixed penalty notice for the offence, however no response was received and the fine was not paid.

The matter was listed at Tameside Magistrates’ Court on two occasions, but the defendant did not turn up. It was again listed on 9 September 2024, again Mr Freitas did not turn up and was found guilty in his absence for the offence of  fly tipping  (s33 Environmental Protection Act 1990). He was fined £1,100 and ordered to pay an additional £440 victim surcharge and £426 costs.

Tameside Council Assistant Executive Member for Enforcement Cllr Hugh Roderick said: “This is a great result and the severity of the fine imposed sends a clear message that flytipping is wholly unacceptable. Our officers are out every day investigating waste, littering and flytipping offences as part of the council’s Our Streets campaign to make our streets cleaner and safer and we will always take enforcement action where we find evidence for who is responsible.

“So far this year we have carried out seven successful prosecutions and issued 223 fixed penalty notices in relation to waste offences. I know that flytipping and litter is of great concern to the local community, most of whom dispose of their waste responsibly and take pride in their local neighbourhoods, and my thanks goes to everyone who works with us in tackling this issue.”

For further information on reporting flytipping and information which may help investigations see www.tameside.gov.uk/flytipping