Fly-tipper caught red handed by council officer pleads guilty in court

A fly-tipper who was caught red handed dumping garden waste on the side of the road has been successfully prosecuted by Three Rivers District Council.

Michael McDonagh, 51, of West Hyde, Rickmansworth, was spotted on 3 February 2021 off-loading a quantity of tree cuttings on land alongside the slip road of Junction 17 of the M25, Maple Cross, by a council Environmental Protection Officer who happened to be passing.

The officer challenged him at the roadside, whereupon he denied the offence and provided her with a false name and address. He was traced via a DVLA check of the vehicle and prosecuted.

McDonagh initially failed to attend court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested and brought before the court on 7 September when he pleaded guilty to the offence of fly-tipping, was fined £480 and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £666 and a victim surcharge of £48.

Cllr Phil Williams, Lead Member for Environmental Services, Climate Change, and Sustainability, said: “By continuing to prosecute those who fly-tip across our district, we send out a clear message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated in Three Rivers. Not only is it an eye-sore for those who see it, and costs money to clear it, but it can have a significant impact on the environment. My thanks to all involved for their hard work in securing this conviction.”

Three Rivers District Council is part of the Hertfordshire Fly-Tipping Group, a multi-agency task force including councils, police, fire and rescue, the Environment Agency, the National Farmers Union and Keep Britain Tidy which works to improve the county’s response to fly- tipping. The group runs the award-winning #SCRAPflytipping campaign to encourage all residents to use the S.C.R.A.P code when arranging for waste to be taken away. Visit www.threerivers.gov.uk/egcl-page/flytipping  to find out more.