The Environment Agency has prosecuted Brian Ward, Patrick Ward and Patrick Ward (unrelated), at Wimbledon Magistrates Court for illegal dumping.
Brian Ward (21), of The Gardens, Bessbrook, Newry, pleaded guilty to three charges of unlawfully depositing waste on land off Bianca Road in Peckham.
He was fined £480 and ordered to pay £3,777 in costs and a £48 victim charge.
Brian Ward pleaded guilty for offences committed between December 2 and December 6, 2019, of depositing mixed waste at an illegal waste site on Bianca Road.
Patrick Ward (50), of Dobsons Way, Bessbrook, Newry, pleaded guilty to one charge of knowingly causing the unlawful depositing of waste at an illegal waste site at Herringham Road, Charlton.
He was fined £480 and ordered to pay £48 victim charge.
A vehicle that was owned and insured by Patrick Ward (50) was filmed on CCTV entering the site laden with waste and then reversing into a warehouse on September 30, 2021.
The vehicle was subsequently filmed driving away with the vehicle empty of waste.
Patrick Ward (50), in pleading guilty, accepted that he was either in control of the vehicle or in a position to control it and, accordingly, accepted that he knowingly permitted the unlawful deposit of waste.
Patrick Ward (26) of St. Marys Street, Newry, pleaded guilty to three charges of knowingly causing waste to be unlawfully deposited at an illegal waste site at Pensbury Place, Wandsworth, London.
Between November 14 and November 19, 2021, a vehicle insured to Patrick Ward was filmed three times on CCTV entering the site at Pensbury Place with waste in the vehicle and subsequently filmed twice leaving the site without any waste.
Illegal dumping at waste sites
The three sites at Herringham Road, Pensbury Place and Bianca Road were all the subject of incursions by travellers who cut locks to gain access and then moved in, taking up residence.
They then proceeded to deposit waste at each site before eventually being evicted.
The case is part of a series of prosecutions resulting from the Environment Agency’s major investigation into waste crime in London, Operation Angola.
The Environment Agency is targeting waste criminals who break into empty sites and fill them with waste.
All the sites in these prosecutions had been broken into and set up as illegal waste sites.
Sean Coleman, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:
“These prosecutions along with others from Operation Angola, send out a strong message that we will search out and prosecute anyone found to be dumping waste illegally.
“We’re pleased that our hard work has resulted in securing these convictions. Operation Angola has now secured 20 convictions.
“Illegally depositing waste at illegal waste sites without regard for the environment and the law, blights communities and undermines the legitimate businesses that follow the rules.
“In many cases householders and businesses are offered cheap waste clearance by rogue operators who then dump it illegally.
“We urge everyone to check that their waste collector is registered as a waste carrier or they could also unwittingly become liable to prosecution.”
