December 19, 2018 10.50 am This story is over 63 months old

Man sentenced for rubbish found in mountain of filth

The council spend thousands cleaning up the area
Example of fly-tipping in Cleethorpes. Picture: North East Lincolnshire Council.

A fly-tipper has been sentenced after his own rubbish was found amongst a ‘mountain of filth’ that was dumped in a lay-by in Cleethorpes earlier this year.

Leigh Potterton, 37, pleaded guilty to a fly-tipping offence under S33 (1) (a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 when he appeared before magistrates on Wednesday, December 12.

His waste was found among 80 tonnes of rubbish that had come from elsewhere.

The waste had been dumped in a lay-by off Hewitt’s Avenue in February this year and included garden waste, tree cuttings, car parts, building materials, carpets, doors, a fridge, asbestos and loose domestic waste.

Investigating officers found a letter in the rubbish addressed to a motor repairs shop on Harold Street in Grimsby. Officers visited the repairs shop and Potterton identified himself as the owner.

“It was a disgusting mess and we won’t tolerate the illegal dumping of rubbish in North East Lincolnshire.”

Officers believed there to be a link between the rubble and asbestos found at the repairs shop and the rubbish found at the lay-by.

It cost North East Lincolnshire Council £6,075 to clear up and more than £5,000 to install temporary barriers to prevent more fly-tipping.

Potterton, who was already serving a custodial sentence at HMP Leeds for an unrelated offence, was sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge.

Councillor Steve Beasant said: “The Hewitt’s Avenue fly-tip was a real eyesore on one of the main roads into Cleethorpes and hit the headlines earlier this year.

“It was a disgusting mess and we won’t tolerate the illegal dumping of rubbish in North East Lincolnshire.

“I hope this serves as a reminder that people should check the credentials of anyone offering to take their waste away for them, otherwise who knows where it will end up.”