Connor Calam fly-tipped construction waste on the edge of Dartmoor while subject to a suspended prison sentence for driving offences.
A judge at Exeter Crown Court told him he had escaped prison 鈥榖y the skin of his teeth鈥� in a case brought by the Environment Agency.
The court heard how a farmer found a large quantity of rubble and other waste deposited across a track near Pudson Farm, Okehampton in January 2017. The farmer reported the incident to the Environment Agency and local council and was told he would have to pay for its removal and safe disposal.
Enquiries by the Environment Agency traced the waste back to Plymouth Skip Hire in Stonehouse, Plymouth operated by Connor Calam, also known as Riley James.
The building waste came from insurance repairs carried out on a property in Plymouth by local building firm Zenith Construction, which had paid Calam 拢245 to remove the material on the understanding that he was a registered waste carrier.
As Plymouth Skip Hire ceased trading in April 2017, Zenith Construction paid for the removal of the waste form the farmer鈥檚 field as a goodwill gesture.
Phil Butterworth of the Environment Agency said: 鈥淭his prosecution is a timely reminder to businesses and home owners to ask three simple questions when getting someone in to dispose of their waste.聽 Is the person registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier? Ask for proof. Where do they intend to take the waste? And can they provide a receipt? If they can鈥檛 provide satisfactory answers to these questions, don鈥檛 hand over your waste.鈥�
Appearing before Exeter Crown Court for sentencing on 6th March 2018, Connor Calam of Seaview Avenue, Lipson, Plymouth was fined 拢2,000 for breaching a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay 拢2,500 costs. He was also made the subject of a 12-month community order, ordered to pay 拢260 compensation to Zenith Construction Ltd plus an 拢85 victim surcharge.
His Honour Judge Ralls QC said: 鈥淔ly-tipping in a beautiful part of the country is a serious matter鈥� and warned the defendant he鈥檇 escaped being sent to prison 鈥渂y the skin of his teeth鈥�.
The sentencing followed an earlier hearing where Calam was found guilty of disposing of controlled waste on land at Pudson Farm, Okehampton between 10 and 27 February 2017 without an environmental permit contrary to Section 33 of the Environment Protection Act 1990.
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