Wiltshire Police bodycam footage helps to secure fly-tipping prosecution
It's after a member of the public dumping waste from a white van.
Last updated 11th Aug 2025
Wiltshire Council has successfully prosecuted a London resident who was spotted fly-tipping and captured on Wiltshire Police bodycam footage.
Chunlin Zheng, of Philip Lane, London, appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on Friday 8 August and pleaded guilty to fly-tipping wooden waste in a layby on the A361 near Trowbridge. He was fined a total of ÂŁ1,114 (including costs and a victim surcharge) and given a 12-month Community Order, requiring him to complete 300 hours unpaid community work. This was later reduced to 200 hours due to his early plea. Part of his unpaid community work may involve litter collecting around Wiltshire.
On 22 January, Mr Zheng was spotted by a member of the public dumping waste from a white van and reported to Wiltshire Police. Following the report, the police attended the scene and identified Mr Zheng, who admitted to the offence and claimed he had been paid ÂŁ150 to dispose of the wood.
Mr Zheng told officers he was short of money and was unable to take the waste to the household recycling centre as was using a commercial vehicle and would have incurred a charge. He was instructed by the police officer to clear the waste and warned that failure to comply would result in arrest.
During the investigation led by Wiltshire Council’s Environmental Enforcement team, Mr Zheng was interviewed under caution and admitted to being paid £350 to dump the waste, instead of the £150 that he had previously claimed. He also confirmed that he was working as a self-employed removal person but that he did not hold a waste carrier’s licence. He failed to provide waste transfer notes for his business.
A ÂŁ1,000 fixed penalty notice was issued to Mr Zheng on 10 March, but to this date it remains unpaid.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding, said: “Mr Zheng was caught in the act of fly-tipping by a nearby member of the public, who not only quickly reported it but also stayed on scene until the police arrived. I want to thank this person for acting in the way that they did. Also thanks to both Wiltshire Police for their initial work to apprehend the offenders, and Metropolitan Police with the investigation. The officer’s bodycam footage provided key evidence for the case.
“Fly-tipping is a serious environmental crime that blights our communities, and we continue to take it very seriously.
“As someone who is running a waste removal business, Mr Zheng has a legal obligation to ensure that any waste is disposed of safely, legally and responsibly – and this includes having the correct documentation. Choosing to fly-tip as the cheaper option, has resulted in a heftier fine payment and a criminal record. I hope that he has learned his lesson.
“We will continue to pursue offenders who ignore the law and encourage residents to report fly-tipping to us through the MyWilts app to help us protect Wiltshire’s beautiful landscapes.”