Wrafton man ordered to pay over £11,000 for fly-tipping offences
Fly-tipping investigation led to vehicle seizure and fines
A 22-year-old man from Wrafton, Braunton has been fined more than £11,000 after admitting multiple fly-tipping offences and breaching environmental laws.
Ben Puig pleaded guilty at Barnstaple Magistrates' Court on 15th December to fly-tipping, improper waste disposal without transfer notes, and failure to uphold his duty of care as laid out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Investigation and offences
The investigation began on 10th September when North Devon Council officers received a report of waste dumped on land in West Down. Items included oil barrels, refrigerators, a broom, and a drain junction. Leaking oil was also reported on a nearby Barnstaple business premises.
Puig admitted his involvement to the landowner at West Down and removed leaking oil barrels prior to the council’s inspection. Officers gathered evidence, while the council cleared the refrigerators.
Further checks on a vehicle led to the discovery of oil barrels used in committing the offence. The vehicle was seized under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Court outcome
Puig was fined £5,220, ordered to pay a £2,000 surcharge, and £4,413 in costs—a total of £11,633.
Councillor Julie Hunt, Lead Member for Waste and Recycling at North Devon Council, said:
“This prosecution sends a clear message that we take fly-tipping seriously, and we hope the fine issued by the court serves as a warning to others. My thanks go to the officers who have worked hard and used the powers they have to hold those responsible to account, and to the members of the public who reported it to us and helped this investigation."
"The defendant in this case has displayed conscience in admitting his role in the offences and he has shown remorse throughout the process. We all have a role to play in keeping North Devon clean, so if you employ someone to take your waste away, always check they have a proper waste carrier's licence and take their name, address and vehicle details."
Dumping waste can result in fines of up to £50,000 in magistrates' courts—or unlimited fines and up to five years’ imprisonment in higher courts. Vehicles used in such offences may also be seized and potentially crushed.
The public is encouraged to report fly-tipping or other related offences via the council’s website, where further guidance on waste disposal and registered waste carriers can be found.