Man fined after CCTV catches him dumping waste
A MAN has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 after dumping rubbish along a lane in County
Durham.
Legal action was taken by Durham County Council against Gary Hancock of Brackenridge, Shotton
Colliery, County Durham after neighbourhood wardens found evidence among waste dumped at the
electricity substation on Shotton Lane. While carrying out a search of the waste, the neighbourhood
officer found a letter containing Hancock’s details.
After reviewing CCTV of the area, footage caught Hancock in the act, along with the vehicle he
used to dump the waste. A formal notice was issued to the 21-year-old, and he was given a date for
interview, which he failed to attend. The council explained to Peterlee Magistrates Court that
Hancock had deposited household waste without an environmental permit.
Hancock pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a £432 fine, £678 in costs, £173 victim surcharge,
totalling £1,283.
Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s head of environment, said: “Dumping waste has a
detrimental effect on the environment, as well as the wellbeing of surrounding communities.
Residents have a duty of care to dispose of waste correctly, safely and responsibly. We know most
do and we thank them for this, but there is a minority who don’t as this case shows.
“If it’s your waste, it is your responsibility. As proven, we will not hesitate to take action against
those who fail to take this responsibility seriously.
“It’s unacceptable to assume it’s okay to dump waste in County Durham, especially so when there
are so many quick and easy ways to dispose of the waste correctly, such as the many HWRCs across
the county.”
