A MAN has been prosecuted after dumping rubbish on a road in Burntwood.
Lee Mills, of Railswood Drive in Pelsall, appeared before Cannock Magistrates’ Court on 7th January 2025 having pleaded guilty to a series of waste and scrap metal offences.
The court heard that in June 2024 drivers told Lichfield District Council that Nether Lane in Burntwood had been blocked. Environmental health officers were sent to investigate and found that the dumped material included asbestos.
The officers traced items to four addresses, with enquiries revealing that Mills had been paid to dispose of waste from each of them. He had falsely claimed to be a registered waste carrier and a licensed scrap metal dealer.
The officers then swooped on Mills’ home and seized the vehicle he used to commit the offences. It was loaded with more waste and scrap metal at the time.
The 51-year-old was sentenced to a 12 month community order, requiring 200 hours of unpaid work, along with a fine of £114 and costs of £1,500. The magistrates ordered that he forfeit the vehicle too.
Cllr Alex Farrell said:
“We’re delighted with the outcome of this prosecution and hope that this sends a warning to anyone thinking of coming into our beautiful district to fly-tip waste.
“The penalties are severe – imprisonment, community service, fines, driving disqualification, forfeiture of the vehicle and a criminal record.
“Our environmental health officers will come after you, wherever you live.”
The fines a joke ? £115 really, why not £15,000 make an example of the idiot.
£114.00 fine! Wow, he won’t do that again in a hurry! Funny how the court costs are more important than the punishment. I wonder how the costs of clearing and disposing of hazardous asbestos compared to the amount he was actually fined for this offence.
@ Local Guy It wasn’t £115. He will have to pay £1614 total in costs but the punishment is the 200 hours community service. He has also lost his pickup truck. Prison would be better but the prisons are in a state too so that might come into it. I do think short prison terms for fly tippers would be better as a deterrent though. All this being said, the Council workers doing all this are doing a pretty good job so I applaud them.
Love reading these stories, would just like more of them to read. People who dump rubbish and drop litter are scum and deserve everything they get. Well done Lichfield council.
I personally would have him pick up litter for 12 months with a high viz jacket on stating what he has done ,also donating a large sum of money to Lichfields litter legends who do a wonderful job !
Good job lichfield council, can more be done to catch people dropping litter please.