Llanelli man fined for scrap metal offence
A Llanelli man has been fined for illegally carrying scrap metal.
Patrick Joseph Murphy, aged 30, of Penybryn Caravan Site, Bynea, appeared before Carmarthen Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to four offences; three offences under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and a further offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that Murphy was stopped by police on two separate occasions in February and March 2012 driving a vehicle with items of scrap. On both occasions he did not have the relevant waste carriers licence or waste transfer notes.
He was also stopped by council environmental enforcement officers on another date in March 2012, again driving a vehicle with scrap metal on it. When questioned under caution, Murphy said he was not a registered waste carrier but had applied for a license online.
Murphy was fined a total of £1,000 (£250 for each offence) by magistrates; he was also ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £504.69 and a £15 victim surcharge.
The council hopes this case will now act as a warning to others and help prevent the illegal transport of waste which often results in fly-tipping.
Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “All businesses that carry waste, including scrap merchants, skip companies, builders and gardeners, must have a waste carriers licence. They must also make sure they have the correct paperwork for all the waste they carry and only use licensed waste sites to dispose of their rubbish.
“Hopefully this case will help to get the message across that anyone caught illegally transporting waste will be prosecuted.”
The council is working closely with the police, through the Community Safety Partnership, as part of a joint operation targeting the unauthorised movement of scrap metal and other waste in Carmarthenshire.
Spot-checks are regularly carried out in Carmarthenshire as part of a multi-agency operation targeting scrap metal dealers.
Inspector Tony Ward from Dyfed-Powys Police said: “In Carmarthenshire we have a strong partnership approach to tackling metal thefts and the illegal transportation of scrap metal. Multi-agency road check operations take place on a regular basis throughout the county and anybody caught acting illegally will be prosecuted.”
Patrick Joseph Murphy, aged 30, of Penybryn Caravan Site, Bynea, appeared before Carmarthen Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to four offences; three offences under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and a further offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that Murphy was stopped by police on two separate occasions in February and March 2012 driving a vehicle with items of scrap. On both occasions he did not have the relevant waste carriers licence or waste transfer notes.
He was also stopped by council environmental enforcement officers on another date in March 2012, again driving a vehicle with scrap metal on it. When questioned under caution, Murphy said he was not a registered waste carrier but had applied for a license online.
Murphy was fined a total of £1,000 (£250 for each offence) by magistrates; he was also ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £504.69 and a £15 victim surcharge.
The council hopes this case will now act as a warning to others and help prevent the illegal transport of waste which often results in fly-tipping.
Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “All businesses that carry waste, including scrap merchants, skip companies, builders and gardeners, must have a waste carriers licence. They must also make sure they have the correct paperwork for all the waste they carry and only use licensed waste sites to dispose of their rubbish.
“Hopefully this case will help to get the message across that anyone caught illegally transporting waste will be prosecuted.”
The council is working closely with the police, through the Community Safety Partnership, as part of a joint operation targeting the unauthorised movement of scrap metal and other waste in Carmarthenshire.
Spot-checks are regularly carried out in Carmarthenshire as part of a multi-agency operation targeting scrap metal dealers.
Inspector Tony Ward from Dyfed-Powys Police said: “In Carmarthenshire we have a strong partnership approach to tackling metal thefts and the illegal transportation of scrap metal. Multi-agency road check operations take place on a regular basis throughout the county and anybody caught acting illegally will be prosecuted.”
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