A LANDSCAPE gardener has been fined for illegally disposing of waste in a case taken to Hereford Magistrates’ Court by Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection Team.

Mr Neil Stuart Jones, 38, of Prospect Walk, Hereford was sentenced on April 30.

He pleaded guilty to one charge for not being a licensed waste carrier, one charge for failing in his duty of care to transfer waste legally to an authorised person over the previous two years, one charge of failing to produce transfer documents to an officer and one charge of failing to answer questions when requested.

Jones was sentenced to pay a fine of £1000 for the four offences and ordered to pay costs of £500 plus a £35 victim surcharge.

At the hearing, the court heard that in June last year a land owner contacted Herefordshire Council regarding a fly tip on their land at Lyde.

During investigation it was revealed that Neil Jones of N Jones Landscapes did not have any records showing that he had disposed of his business waste to an authorised person for the previous two years.

He did not have a waste carriers licence for transporting waste, failed to produce any documents when requested and refused to answer questions put to him regarding his business.

The maximum penalty for fly tipping is a £50,000 fine and/or 5 years imprisonment.

The Community Protection Team will investigate fly tipping cases that are reported via the Herefordshire Council website or by calling 01432 261761.

For further information visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/flytipping