Man handed fine and costs of almost £4,000 after fly-tipping waste in Great Yarmouth's historic rows
A man who dumped rubbish in one of Great Yarmouth's historic rows has been left with a bill of almost £4,000 after he was convicted of fly-tipping.
Stefan Marginean, 44, of High Street, Gorleston, appeared at the town's magistrates' court on April 17 where he admitted dumping a significant number of large boxes and wrapping in Row 114, Dene Side, Great Yarmouth.
The waste covered most of the alleyway, almost blocking it and making it difficult for anyone to pass.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council brought the prosecution against Marginean after receiving a complaint about the fly-tip on February 28 last year. Officers examined CCTV footage and were quickly able to ascertain where it had come from and who dumped it.
CCTV footage showed Marginean collecting the waste in a van from a business in King Street at about 8.30pm on February 27. He drove a short distance and within half an hour had fly-tipped the rubbish at Row 114.
Admitting a breach of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Marginean told the court he was remorseful, wanted to apologise and said he was doing a favour for a friend.
Marginean was fined £1,875, which magistrates reduced to £1,250 for his guilty plea. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £500 and £1,980 costs within 28 days. The business owner from where the waste was collected received a fixed penalty notice.
A spokesperson for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: ''Fly-tipping is a huge concern for our residents. People are fed up of seeing illegally dumped waste blighting their communities.
''Cleaning it up puts a major strain on council resources and has to be paid for with taxpayers' money. This sends a clear message: if you dump rubbish we will track you down and prosecute wherever possible.''
The council also thanked the Town Centre Partnership - which operates the CCTV - and Norfolk County Council for their assistance with the prosecution.
Last year the council tackled about 4,500 incidents of illegally dumped waste and has five dedicated crews tackling fly-tipping across the borough. It has also been running successful community campaigns to help residents understand how to dispose of waste properly.
The spokesperson added: ''We can all help prevent fly-tipping and do our bit to keep the borough tidy so we can take pride in our neighbourhoods.
''Remember to refuse offers to have your rubbish taken away - it could be fly-tipped and you could be fined. Be cautious of all waste carriers, check they are registered on the Environment Agency's website, refuse unexpected offers to have rubbish taken away, ask how your waste will be disposed of and don't forget to obtain paperwork.''
Fly-tipping in the borough can be reported via the Love Clean Streets app or website, via e-mail at [email protected] or by calling 01493 846478.
More information about rubbish and recycling in Great Yarmouth is available at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/article/8296/About-waste-management
