A man rang police demanding they return his van, which was caught being used for fly-tipping at a beauty spot .
Sean Fagan, of Whitney Road in Woolton, pleaded guilty to fly-tipping at Chester Magistrates’ Court on July 27 of this year. It was heard that the 29-year-old had lent his van out to a friend, who did the fly tipping.
As Fagan was the registered keeper of the vehicle, he is treated as knowingly causing the waste to be deposited, even if he knew nothing about it.
Fly-tipping incident
The inside of Fagan’s van. Image from Cheshire Constabulary
In 2020, officers from the rural crime team were called to reports of fly-tipping on Frodsham marshes in Cheshire.
Police discovered Fagan’s van abandoned, with keys in the ignition along with fresh tyre tracks. A scrap washing machine was found inside the van along with rubbish dumped nearby in a drainage ditch on Weaver Lane.
After speaking with witnesses at the scene, it was claimed that three men fled the scene on foot.
Just as they began to leave the scene, officers were made aware of a call from Fagan to 101 who was demanding to know where his vehicle was and wanting it to be returned. Police immediately seized the van from the scene.
Fagan claimed he had lent his van to a friend and following further investigation he was summonsed to court for the fly-tipping offence. On Tuesday, September 13, the van was crushed following a deprivation order by the courts.
The courts ordered the van to be confiscated while Fagan was handed a fine of £180 and ordered to pay court costs of £490 and a £34 victim surcharge.
Police constable of Cheshire’s rural crime team, Peter Moss, said: “This is a great result for Cheshire Constabulary and local partners in the fight against fly-tipping.
“Fly-tipping is a crime that can affect everyone, not only is the dumping of illegal waste an eyesore but it can be health hazard too, costing thousands in tax-payers money to clean up.”
“If fly-tipping isn’t dealt with quickly, I can lead to an increase in littering in areas – that is why we need the support from local residents and communities to ensure that you use legitimate removal companies,” he said.
