On Monday, March 4, 2024, the Hereford magistrates heard about an incident that occurred around 1:30 PM on June 20, 2023. Two witnesses observed pallets being thrown from the back of a lorry into the hedge of a layby. Intrigued, they exited at the next junction and returned along the A40 to document the fly-tipping. The enforcement officers from Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection team reviewed the footage and successfully traced the offender using the lorry’s vehicle registration.
Caught on Camera – fly tipper filmed and fined thousands – Herefordshire Council
The individual responsible was Valentin Ene (31) from Kingsdown Close, Basildon. Ene explained to the officers that he needed to empty his lorry to collect goods from a business in Hereford. This task was part of his work as a lorry driver. Unfortunately, Ene failed to appear for his initial court hearing scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2024. Consequently, an arrest warrant was issued. On Monday, March 4, 2024, Valentin Ene appeared before the Hereford Magistrates court, where he pleaded guilty to both fly-tipping and failing in his duty of care.
Charles Yarnold, Herefordshire Council’s Head of Public Protection, says: “Every year, tens of thousands of pounds of council tax payers’ money is spent on clearing up fly tipping and unlawful waste disposal. Thank you to the members of the public who assisted in providing the evidence in this case which demonstrates our excellent community spirt and will to keep our county a beautiful place in which we live and work.”
Valentin Ene received a fine of £1,600. Additionally, he was directed to cover costs amounting to £814.09 and a victim surcharge of £640, resulting in a total payment of £3,254.09.
The maximum penalty for fly-tipping is a £50,000 fine and/ or five years imprisonment.
