Fly-tipper caught on CCTV
A MAN who was caught on camera fly-tipping in a popular dog walking location has appeared before
magistrates.
In the footage, Owen Gilbert, of Hope Street, Crook, can be seen removing household waste from
the back of a van and hurling it into the undergrowth in an attempt to conceal it. The incident
occurred in June 2024 on private land off the B6298 close to the nearby villages of Billy Row and
Roddymoor, which is frequently targeted by fly-tippers.
Magistrates in Peterlee heard a Durham County Council neighbourhood warden discovered the
waste during a routine patrol of the area. The warden checked footage captured by covert CCTV
cameras, installed as part of efforts to crackdown on fly-tipping, and was able to watch the whole
incident unfold. This included gaining a clear view of the van’s registration number, which led him to
Gilbert, who was the registered keeper of the vehicle.
During interview, the 21-year-old denied he was responsible for the offence, claiming he had sold
the vehicle before the incident occurred. However, he later admitted he had lied about the sale of
the vehicle. Gilbert pleaded guilty to breaching the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by knowingly
causing and permitting household waste to be deposited at the location. He said he had fly-tipped
after seeing other waste in the area but accepted that he should not have done it.
Magistrates ordered Gilbert to pay a total of £877.80 in fine, victim surcharge and costs.
Ian Hoult, interim head of environment at Durham County Council, said: “This incident took place
in a rural area close to a footpath, which is used by dog walkers and people wishing to exercise and
enjoy the countryside. It’s unacceptable to assume it’s okay to dump waste here or anywhere else in
County Durham, especially when there are many ways to dispose of rubbish and unwanted items
responsibly.
“Mr Gilbert’s actions have left him with a criminal conviction and hundreds of pounds out of
pocket. I hope this serves as a warning to anyone thinking of fly-tipping, that we take these crimes
extremely seriously and will pursue those who flout the law.”
Durham County Council operates Household Waste and Recycling centres across the county,
which are free for households. To find out more, visit www.durham.gov.uk/hwrc .
For information about other ways homes and businesses can dispose of waste responsibly –
including how to arrange a bulky item collection – and to find out how to report fly-tipping, visit
www.durham.gov.uk/flytipping .
