Serial fly-tipper in Hertfordshire sentenced to 10 months in prison

A serial fly-tipper has been sentenced to 10 months in prison following a prosecution brought by three local authorities in Hertfordshire.

The case was originally brought before Stevenage Magistrates Court on 17 March by James Ellis, a solicitor at North Hertfordshire District Council who also acted on behalf of Stevenage Borough Council and East Herts District Council.

Grant Oscar Gilham, 25 of Waltham Cross, pleaded not guilty, meaning the matter was sent to the Cambridge Crown Court for trial.

Gilham committed five offences between January and April 2016 while operating an illegal waste disposal business without an environmental permit.

The charges against him included the unlawful dumping of:

• controlled household waste on farm land in Benington;
• chairs, furniture, children's toys and various other items in Ashwell Road, Bygrave;
• planks of wood and other items of waste between Halls Green and Warrens Green in Weston;
• golf clubs, plasterboard, wood and various other items in Bygrave Road, Ashwell;
• a barbeque, a wooden door, black sacks and various other items at Tye End Garage Compound, Stevenage.

Gilham decided to change his plea to guilty and the matter was brought before Cambridge Crown Court for sentencing on 28 September.

The judge, His Honour Judge Farrell QC, said that the sentence would have been 12 months, but that in recognition of Gilham's eventual guilty plea, this would be reduced by 1/6th to 10 months.

Cllr 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. It sends out a strong message to other would-be fly-tippers that we will not tolerate this behaviour.

“If you're a householder considering paying people like Mr Gilham to do house clearances on the cheap - think again and stop! You have a responsibility to dispose of your waste properly - if you don't you could find yourself in court too."