Sunderland men fined for fly-tipping after 'forgetting' bag of waste in lane

Ryan Graham, 28, of Westheath Avenue, and William Wayne Robson, 36, of East Vines, both admitted fly-tipping when they appeared before Sunderland Magistrates’ Court.

Tony Southwick, prosecuting on behalf of Sunderland City Council, said the pair were seen on CCTV footage in the rear lane of Hemming Street, Grangetown, on the morning of August 6 this year in a white van belonging to Graham.

He said Robson is seen walking towards the rear doors of the van and Graham is seen walking out of view and returning just over a minute later.

Then both men get into the van and drive off and a white ‘dumpy’ bag, containing construction materials, can be seen in the lane.

He said when interviewed Graham said he has parked up in the lane to go to the nearby shop.

Mr Southwick said Robson said he had offered to get rid of some waste for a family member and had asked Graham to help because he had a van.

He said Robson told investigators he had removed the dumpy bag while sweeping out the van, but had forgotten to put it back in.

However, Mr Southwick said the CCTV shows the van driving slowly back down the lane a few minutes later.

He said: “No efforts were made at that time to retrieve the dumpy bag that had been left.”

Richard Copsey, defending Robson, said: “They don’t go there for that reason, to dump this. He started clearing out the back of the van and forgot about it and drove away.”

He said: “When he spoke to the police, he said ‘I’m sorry, I made a mistake’.

“It is one bag that needed to be taken away. He is really embarrassed about being here. He is ashamed of himself.”

Sophie Cohen, defending Graham, said: “They were going into that lane because there was a shop nearby for my client to go and get a drink.

“He returned because he didn’t have his wallet with him. He went into a panic, so the two of them packed up the van and left.

“At most he is negligent for not putting the bag back into the van.”

Graham was fined £320 and ordered to pay a £32 surcharge, £630.60 investigation costs and £150 legal costs. Robson was fined £320 and ordered to pay a £32 surcharge, £530.60 investigation costs and £150 legal costs.