A prolific fly-tipper was caught red handed after he was filmed by a passing MOD helicopter. Corey Ross Carr was recorded dumping waste and even burning mattresses.
Carr was operating a waste clearance service on Facebook - falsely advertising he was ''fully audited by the Environment Agency". He was eventually caught on video on November 17 by a helicopter that filmed his illegal activity.
It captured Carr depositing and burning waste, including a mattress, on land that was owned by the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust - and was not a permitted waste facility. He has been prosecuted by Wiltshire Council for environmental and trading standard offences.
The court also heard how a large quantity of household waste found fly-tipped on land off the A4 between Devizes and Beckhampton. This waste was traced by Environmental Enforcement Officers to a householder in Melksham. They were able to prove Mr Carr had been paid to clear the waste but had failed to lawfully dispose of it.
Carr, of Somerset Crescent, Melksham appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on June 6. He pleaded guilty to four environmental offences and one Trading Standards offence.
Carr was given a 12-month Community Order, fined a total of £1,295, including costs, and must attend 12 mental health sessions with 10 rehabilitation sessions. Co-defendant, Neill Ludlow of Woodrow Road, Melksham, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to knowingly permitting the deposited waste on land adjacent to his property.
He had denied allowing Carr to deposit waste and denied any knowledge about him burning a mattress. Ludlow was given an 18-month conditional discharge and awarded costs of £1,200, plus surcharge of £22 to be paid within 28 days.
Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, cabinet member for waste, said: "We have a very clear message - we will not tolerate fly-tipping. 'We will continue to prosecute anyone who believes that they can flout the rules and blight our communities and environment.
"We would like to thank the MOD helicopter pilots, the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Police and all the witnesses who assisted in this prosecution. We will now make urgent representations to the Environment Agency to request they revoke Mr Carr'swaste carriers' licence.''
