Joel Marshal, 38, admitted in Nottingham Magistrates Court on 1st February to endangering the health of local people by depositing the contents of a skip, onto to the car park off High Street in Hucknall town centre. The skip contained hazardous waste including asbestos.

Ashfield District Council's Enforcement Officers had previously been investigating the skip and trying to locate the owners, due to the seriousness of the contents. Whilst in the process of waiting for it to be safely removed, they received a call to say that the skip had been stolen and the waste fly-tipped over the car park.

After following enquiries, the officers discovered that the skip had been taken by Joel Marshall and promptly interviewed him under caution. Upon questioning, he admitted that he had dumped the illegal waste.

Whilst in court, he also pleaded guilty to committing further unrelated offences of driving whilst disqualified and driving with no insurance whilst on bail for the fly-tipping offence.

The Magistrates Court sentenced Mr Marshal to 28 days imprisonment for the fly-tipping offence and for driving whilst disqualified, he was prosecuted by the CPS and received 126 days imprisonment and an 18 month driving ban. He is to serve his sentence concurrently. 

Edd de Coverly, Head of Neighbourhood Services said: “Fly tipping is a serious offence and this case shows it carries a serious penalty, which ultimately could be up to 5 years imprisonment and a £50,000 fine. The Council’s Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers work tirelessly to investigate fly-tipping cases and this prosecution recognises the real public health risk that this case created. “

Councillor Warren Nuttall added: “The Council will not tolerate people fly-tipping and the successful action of the Enforcement Officers and the Legal Department shows that anybody found guilty of fly-tipping will get caught and will pay for their actions.”