A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to dumping waste across Hertfordshire.
Grant Oscar Gilham, of Bryanstone Road in Waltham Cross, initially pleaded not guilty to five charges after a prosecution was brought by North Hertfordshire District Council in March.
He was accused of running an unlicensed waste business and dumping furniture, plasterboard and household waste across five locations between January and April 2016.
Because of the not guilty plea, the matter was referred to Cambridge Crown Court for trial.
In the following months, Gilham decided to change his plea to guilty. Sentencing took place on 28 September and the judge, David Farrell QC, issued the prison term. He said the sentence had been reduced by two months as Gilham had entered a guilty plea.
The council took the lead in the prosecution, which also involved Stevenage Borough Council and East Herts Council.
Hertfordshire’s local authorities co-ordinate enforcement against fly-tipping through the Herts Fly-tipping Group.
Bernard Lovewell, North Hertfordshire’s executive member for housing and environmental health, said: “Local residents have made it clear to us how disgusted they are with this sort of behaviour, so it’s good news that this man will go to prison for his actions.”
Jackie Hollywell, Stevenage council executive member for communities, said: “This successful prosecution is down to hard work by council teams across the county, working together to collect evidence.
“It shows our determination to cut fly-tipping and ensure anyone who dumps waste in our area is brought to justice.”
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