More Northampton fly-tippers ordered to pay over £7,000

Seven people have been ordered by Magistrates to pay a combined total of £7,252 in the latest round of fly-tipping prosecutions by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).

At Wellingborough Magistrates court on Tuesday, 3 January:

• 28-year-old Liam Brown-Donnovan of Harding Terrace, Semilong, Northampton was fined £200, and order to pay the Council’s £1,000 cost and a £80 victim surcharge after his refuse sacks were found out on the street by WNC Neighbourhood Wardens two days before the collection for that area. Brown-Donnovan ignored the offer to settle the issue via £150 fixed penalty notice (FPN) and was found guilty by magistrates in his absence.
• 28-year-old Amy Leigh Knibbs of Scott Court, Glebe Farm, Milton Keynes was fined £100, order to pay £1,000 cost and a £40 Victim Surcharge. In her absence Magistrates found her guilty of fly-tipping waste found by WNC’s Neighbourhood Wardens on a grassed area in Grange Road, Northampton. She too ignored the offer of a £150 FPN.
• 33-year-old Viktorija Kogele of St Michaels Road, Northampton was fined £350, and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £140 victim surcharge. In his absence Magistrates found him guilty of dumping a quantity of refuse sacks, cardboard and other miscellaneous items found by Wardens on a grass bank at the exit of St Michaels Road Carpark.

At Wellingborough Magistrates Court on Friday, 13 January:

• 51-year-old Paul Steele of Melbourne Walk, Northampton was fined £480 and ordered to pay £500 costs. The prosecution came after witnesses provided Neighbourhood Wardens with video footage of Steele dumping a barbecue and other items on a grass bank near his home. After ignoring a £400 FPN his case was presented to court on Tuesday, 3 January but he failed to appear. A warrant was issued, and he was subsequently arrested and remanded in custody until he plead guilty to fly-tipping on 13 January. His fine was revoked due to the time he had spent in custody but was ordered to pay the council’s costs.

At Wellingborough Magistrates court on Tuesday 17 January:

• 26-year-old Amy Ann Ablett, of Alexander Court, Lumbertubs, Northampton was fined £90 and ordered to pay £100 costs and a £36 victim surcharge. Neighbourhood Wardens issued her with a £400 FPN after they found two black refuse sacks which belonged to her dumped in Penistone Road, Lumbertubs. After requesting to pay the FPN via instalments, she made no further contact with the council. She did not appear at Magistrates on 17 January but admitted her guilt via a letter to the court.
• 42-year-old Marian Catilin Patilea of Potters Green Road, Coventry was fined £220, and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £88 victim surcharge. He was sent a £150 FPN which he ignored after Wardens found two refuse sacks on a grass verge in Lower Farm Road, Moulton Park, Northampton. Magistrates also found him guilty in his absence.
• 43-year-old Mihaela Marin of Salisbury Street, Semilong, Northampton was fined £220 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £88 victim surcharge. He too ignored a £150 FPN and was found guilty by Magistrates in his absence.

“It gives us no joy when prosecuting people for fly-tipping, we’d much rather spend resources elsewhere, but we must do our part as a lead member of this community.

"All we want is everyone to do their part, and on behalf of the vast majority who want safe and clean streets, we won’t hesitate when taking action against that small minority who ignore their responsibilities."Cllr David Smith, WNC’s Cabinet Member for community safety and engagement and regulatory services.

Last year WNC launched its Fly-tipping Charter setting out how the council will work to tackle environmental crime.

It outlines the Council’s commitment to working with local communities to reduce fly-tipping, backed by a robust enforcement policy to discourage and prosecute offenders.

The Charter includes a detailed plan of action including targeted patrols, the use of CCTV, and working with residents, businesses, and town and parish councils to avoid fly-tipping and gather intelligence to prosecute.

It also sets out how the Council will communicate with businesses, landlords and householders to ensure they are clear on their responsibilities towards managing their waste responsibly.

The new Fly-Tipping Charter complements the existing Litter Charter, which was launched last summer to ensure the Council takes a coordinated approach to tackling litter across West Northants.