A man dumped asbestos, kids’ toys, and gas cylinders in Plymouth. He has been jailed and must pay £1000.
The first instance occurred on November 2nd, when Cunningham left waste, including carpets and gas cylinders, behind Milehouse Road. Kids’ toys and trash bags were also present. CCTV footage showed his van in the vicinity just before the trash was discovered.
On November 17th, his van reappeared. A person filmed him on Embankment Lane using their phone and dashcam; the van was full of waste upon entering and empty soon after. People later found dumped furniture, mattresses, lino, and crockery at the location.
On November 24th, Cunningham returned to Milehouse Road, this time dumping rubble and wood. He also dumped roofing felt and suspected asbestos, and council CCTV captured his van with tape covering the license plate, which he removed upon exiting.
Three days later, more trash, builder’s waste, was found on Adelaide Street. A council officer patrolling the area spotted it and took pictures of the dumping. Cunningham was paid to remove the waste but was not licensed to do so, and the cleanup cost the Council almost £2,000.
In court, Daniel pled guilty to breaking environmental laws and received a two-month jail sentence to run concurrently with his current sentence. The judge also ordered him to pay £1000, even though he cannot earn money while jailed.
The judge stated that Cunningham tricked people into believing he was licensed and harmed the environment for financial gain. A council member addressed fly-tipping, expressing strong disapproval and a commitment to punishing offenders.
They reminded people to utilize licensed carriers and obtain a waste transfer notice. They warned that a price seemingly too good is likely a scam and advised everyone to check credentials with the council.