Community order for toxic fly tipper

A man who dumped dozens of empty bottles which had contained a toxic dry cleaning fluid has been given a 300 hour community service order in the North East of England.

The bottles were found by the Fire Brigade during a routine fire risk survey in a residential area of Stockton-on-Tees in November last year and the resulting court case, prosecuted by the environment agency, has led to the conviction of Andrew Robert Dales, 23, of Wharfedale Close, Stockton-on-Tees.

Tracing the origin of the bottles was a straightforward task, as the fly tipper had left a dry cleaning ticket at the scene and boxes marked with the address of the shop.

Whilst empty, the bottles contained traces of a potent toxic chemical which can cause extensive damage to aquatic life as well as being a skin and eye irritant which is harmful if inhaled and ingested and thought to be a carcinogen.

300 hours community service is the maximum community order which can be imposed on a fly tipper.

Sam Bond