A driver has been found guilty of fly tipping in Walsall and ordered to pay over £400.

On 16 July 2021 the driver of a silver motor vehicle was captured on camera illegally disposing of foliage in Rayboulds Bridge Road, Walsall. 

Enquiries with the registered keeper revealed the driver to be Michael Evans of Napier Road, Walsall. On 19 August 2021 Mr Evans attended Walsall Council House to be interviewed in which he admitted the offence of fly tipping. He was subsequently issued a Fixed Penalty for £400 which he failed to pay.

The case was heard in Dudley Magistrates Court on 22 February 2023 by Judge Wheeler. Mr Evans attended court and entered a guilty plea. He stated that he had not paid the Fixed Penalty because he could not pay the amount in full and could only pay by instalments but that facility was unavailable.

The judge awarded the council’s costs in the sum of £432.80 and also imposed a surcharge of £23. Judge Wheeler took into account Mr Evans’ mitigation of financial hardship and decided that, as the costs exceeded the original fixed penalty, he would not impose a fine upon Mr Evans but make him subject to a Conditional Discharge for six months. 

Two other fly-tipping cases were due to be heard but the defendants failed to attend court and warrants have been issued. Councillor Garry Perry, Deputy Leader for Resilient Communities said:

“My thanks, as ever, go to our community protection and legal services team for their sterling work. The message should be loud and clear by now; we do not tolerate this behaviour in Walsall.

“What I think many of us will struggle to understand is why Mr Evans committed a criminal act when he lives closer to a household waste recycling facility, where he could have legally disposed of his waste free of charge, than he does to the place he chose to fly-tip it.”