A Huddersfield father and son have been convicted of fly-tipping.
And the convictions prompted a tough warning from Kirklees Council to others: You could end up with a large fine and a criminal record.
Christopher Callaghan and Billy Callaghan, pleaded guilty to fly-tipping waste under Section 33 Environmental Protection Act 1990 when they appeared before Kirklees Magistrates Court in Huddersfield.
Christopher, 62, is from Heaton Road, Gledholt, while his 35-year-old son is from Mill View, Milnsbridge.
The court heard the men were witnessed fly-tipping the waste on George Street, Milnsbridge on August 17, 2014. The witness then reported to the crime to Kirklees Council.
Council officials gathered the evidence and ordered the pair to clean up the rubbish, which they did. But they brought the case against the men who admitted to dumping items from a property that Christopher’s daughter had just moved into. The pair argued they would have moved the rubbish into a skip once it was emptied.
The court fined Christopher £230 and ordered him to pay a £22 Victim Surcharge and £669.10 in legal costs. His son was fined £190 and was also made to pay with £20 Victim Surcharge and £669.10 legal costs.
Clr Cathy Scott, the Cabinet member for place said: “This conviction is excellent news for the council and the people of Kirklees.
“Our staff work hard to ensure that Kirklees is kept clean and safe for everyone living and visiting the area. Mindless acts of fly-tipping like this mean we have to use our already limited resources to clear waste that has shouldn’t be there.
“The conviction not only means that we can recoup some of the costs but also sends a clear message to anyone else thinking of breaking the law in this way:You may think that fly-tipping will save you time and money, but in reality you could end up with a large fine and a criminal record.”
A rect report revealed that Kirklees Council is dealing with an average of 250 calls about fly-tipping every month.
