St Austell man fined after his van is caught being used for fly-tipping by covert camera
Michael Richards, 35, of Scredda, was ordered to pay a total of £2,409 in fines and costs
A St Austell man has been fined after his van was caught being used to fly-tip by a covert camera.
Cameras had been set up by Cornwall Council's Community Protection team to monitor and gather evidence after issues with fly-tipping at Minorca Lane in Bugle.
The court heard that on two separate occasions, waste was deposited with cameras capturing a van registered to Richards being used to dispose of tyres and roofing tiles.
Michael Richards, 35, of Scredda, previously pleaded guilty to allowing controlled waste to be unlawfully deposited from a vehicle under his control, contrary to Section 33(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
He appeared for sentencing at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on 6th October 2026.
Richards claimed he allowed another man, known only as Pedro, to rent his vehicle on both occasions when the fly-tipping occurred.
The Council’s Community Protection team were unable to trace Pedro.
Richards, who has a previous conviction for the same offence, was ordered to pay a total of £2,409 in fines and costs.
Councillor Thalia Marrington, cabinet member responsible for Community Safety and Public Protection at Cornwall Council, said: "Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence that blights communities, harms the environment and places a financial burden on taxpayers and landowners who are left to pay for the waste to be cleared.
“Our Community Protection team investigates environmental crimes using a range of techniques, including surveillance. This enables us to identify offenders and bring them before the courts.
“I hope this prosecution acts a warning to others that we will not tolerate fly-tipping in Cornwall and we will hold offenders to account.”