Court Action Taken For Environmental Offences

Two men have been taken to court – on the same day – by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Environmental Health team for separate environmental offences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mark O’Leary of Rees Terrace, Llanbradach was taken to court following non-payment of a fixed penalty notice, issued to him for a dog fouling offence which occurred at Wingfield Works field, Llanbradach in June this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr O’Leary did not attend court when the case was heard at Newport Magistrates Court on Friday 2nd December 2016, but the case was proven in his absence. He was found guilty of the offence contrary to the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 and was fined £220. In addition, he was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £120 and a victim surcharge of £30, payable within 14 days. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Neil Squiras of Luckham Road, Bournemouth was also taken to court, following non-payment of a fixed penalty notice for a littering offence which occurred at Commercial Street, Nelson in July this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Squiras did not attend court when the case was heard at Newport Magistrates Court on Friday 2nd December 2016, but the case was proven in his absence. He was found guilty of the offence of littering contrary to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and was fined £220. In addition, he was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £120 and a victim surcharge of £30, payable within 14 days. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member Cllr Nigel George said, “Offences such as these show a blatant disregard for our environment, and it’s important to make it clear that we will always pursue cases such as these through the courts. We will not tolerate the actions of this inconsiderate minority, and will use all the tools at our disposal to ensure they do not get away with this behaviour”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​