Man Fined £3,950 for Fly-Tipping Cardboard Near A303

An individual has been issued a fine of nearly £4,000 for depositing a van-load of cardboard boxes, which were not his property, alongside the A303. Mohammed Hawkar, residing at Wicker Hill in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, left the waste material in a lay-by situated close to Winterbourne Stoke. The council reported that the discarded items were traced back to a business in Yeovil that had lent a van to Hawkar for the purpose of moving furniture. Hawkar admitted guilt to the charge of fly-tipping on a public highway at Swindon Magistrates Court on November 8, resulting in a fine of £3,950. The proprietor of the Somerset business stated that his vehicle contained his own waste when it was initially collected, but upon its return by Hawkar, it was found to be empty. The council indicated that it successfully located Hawkar a short time later and initiated legal proceedings against him. Councillor Nick Holder, cabinet member for highways, flooding, and street scene, commented: “We are committed to tackling fly-tipping in Wiltshire and as this case shows, our Environment Enforcement officers will pursue offenders as part of our zero-tolerance approach to environmental crime.” He further added: “Our message is clear: We’re Targeting Fly-tippers in Wiltshire and we will fine or prosecute anyone caught illegally dumping rubbish in our beautiful county.”