Cameras catch fly-tipper in the act
A man who illegally dumped waste in a Welsh woodland has been ordered to pay a total of £2,270 in fines and costs after being caught on Natural Resources Wales (NRW) surveillance cameras.
Toby Hamilton was sentenced for fly-tipping in Dyfi Forest near Pantperthog following a Fly Tipping Wales investigation that began when his truck was spotted entering the area on three separate occasions in July 2024. Waste was later discovered at the site, and his vehicle’s number plate led to his identification.
Denial
When questioned under caution, Mr Hamilton denied that he had been fly-tipping and that he had been in the area to shoot rabbits despite only being in the forest for a few minutes on each occasion.
Despite denying the offence when interviewed under caution, Mr Hamilton pleaded guilty to illegally depositing waste when Natural Resources Wales took him to Aberystwyth Magistrates Court on 4 February 2025.
He was fined £600 for depositing controlled waste, reduced to £400 due to an early guilty plea. He also received a £225 fine for a byelaw offence, reduced to £150.
A victim surcharge of £220 was applied, and he was ordered to contribute £1,500 towards prosecution costs, bringing the total financial penalty to £2,270.
Justice
Neil Harrison, Team Leader for Fly-Tipping Action Wales, said: “This case highlights our commitment to tackling illegal waste disposal and protecting our natural environment. Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to investigate incidents and bring offenders to justice.”
The public can help protect Wales’ landscapes and environment by reporting fly-tipping. Witnesses can call NRW’s 24/7 hotline on 0300 065 3000, or use the online reporting form.
Fly Tipping Action Wales is a Welsh Government-funded initiative, hosted and supported by Natural Resources Wales.
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You don’t tell us who ended up paying for removal of the waste to an authorised site?
Surely the offender should have been forced to cover those costs too.
Do you want it spelled out to you?
He also defrauds pensioners.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45438783
I read that too! If it’s the same person, he sounds like a real piece of… Work!
THAT GUY’S 24?
He’s at least 30 now.
Should lose his driving licence for that.
Fly tipping is a scourge in Wales. Particularly S Wales. Glad to see a successful prosecution. Near me you can find hot tubs dumped, kitchens, sofas, you name it. The worst is the building waste though. Piles and piles of it. It’s makes me sad to think people don’t care about their own area
This is a years-old issue: when I lived in Swansea over fifty years ago, there was a rural lane on the urban fringe just south of Llangyfelach which was constantly blighted with severe fly-tipping. As quickly as it was cleared, more was dumped.
I recall a recent incident here in Spain when two flytippers were seen, by the Guardia Civil, throwing a fridge off a cliff. They were made to clamber down, retrieve the fridge and bring it back to the road. After this they were prosecuted and fined €10,000.
Surely lying about your involvement and only admitting it after being shown incontrovertible proof shouldn’t count as an early guilty plea. £400 quid is ridiculous. They should pay the full cost of removal plus a hefty fine otherwise it’s just another overhead to his business