CCTV evidence convicts flytipper

A Burmantofts man has been prosecuted for flytipping having been caught red-handed on CCTV.

Peter Morris of Naseby Gardens, pleaded guilty at Leeds magistrates court last week.

He was fined £160 and must pay costs totalling £830.

Having had some work done at home and concerned that neighbours would complain about the waste, Morris dumped the rubbish on a fly tipping hotspot on Telephone Place in the Sheepscar area.

In a bid to deter flytippers the council had installed CCTV cameras just days prior to the offence.

The use of CCTV must follow strict guidelines and warning signs that the cameras were in operation had been displayed.

Despite this, Morris still illegally abandoned the waste and was prosecuted under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Councillor Mark Dobson, executive member for environmental protection and community safety said:

“People get fed up of our streets being used as unofficial dumping grounds and we don’t have the resources to continually pay for the clear up costs so we’ll use all the tools at our disposal to catch flytippers.

“When we deploy our CCTV cameras, we make sure the appropriate warning signs are in place so there really is no excuse when we catch you red-handed.”