Bristol fly-tipper with fake name caught by investigation

Owen Crumlish, 41, of Green Close, Bristol, pleaded guilty to dumping domestic and household waste on open ground near Severn Beach on 28 June 2019.

The Environment Agency had been investigating several reports of fly-tipping in the area and secured CCTV footage of two men using a vehicle to dump waste. The registered keeper of the vehicle was recorded as ‘Leo Freel’, which turned out to be a bogus identity.

But with the licence details known, police stopped the vehicle when it was next sighted and Crumlish confirmed his identity.

Stephanie Marriott of the Environment Agency said:

Waste crime is a serious offence like any other type of crime we will catch and prosecute you using all available resource and means.

The landowner who was the victim of this fly-tipping has cleared the land at their own expense but taken necessary steps to prevent them from being targeted by waste criminals again.

To avoid your waste being fly-tipped in this way, check for a waste carrier’s licence, ask how and where the waste will be disposed of, don’t pay cash and get a receipt or waste transfer note which includes the details of the company or person taking your waste away.

If you spot fly-tipping or know someone involved, contact your local council or Crimestoppers to report it in the first instance.

Crumlish was ordered to pay £498 fine plus £250 costs.

Notes to editor

Owen Crumlish pleaded guilty to one charge of depositing controlled waste without an environmental permit on 28 June 2019, contrary to section 33(1)(a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. He was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates Court on 14 June 2021.

You could be prosecuted if your waste is fly-tipped. Find out more about your Duty of Care.

Find out more about fly-tipping and who is responsible.

For advice on preventing fly-tipping visit http://www.tacklingflytipping.com/home/1508.