Three Halton residents were convicted of fly-tipping last week in separate prosecutions brought by the Council.
Cerys Bentham, 28, of Beamont Street, Widnes, was recently prosecuted at Warrington Magistrates Court following a report of refuse sacks having been fly-tipped in the entry near her home in June 2024.
After an investigation carried out by Halton Borough Council’s Community Safety & Protection Enforcement Team, Miss Bentham was asked to provide the Council with information, under caution, to explain any involvement that she may have had with the waste being left there.
She failed to provide any information or make any contact with the Council. As a result of this, and to allow the Council to continue with the investigation, a Section 108 Notice in accordance with the Environment Act 1995 was served inviting her to attend a recorded interview, under caution in September.
The Section 108 Notice put a legal obligation on Miss Bentham to attend the interview and any failure to do so without reasonable cause could lead to prosecution. She failed to attend, hindering the Council investigation and the case proceeded to Magistrates Court.
Miss Bentham did not attend Court, nor did she submit a plea to the Courts and the case was heard in her absence. Miss Bentham was convicted of the offence, receiving a criminal record, a fine of £440, was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £176 and the Council’s costs of £186.
Ms Nicole Ryder, 27, of Laburnum Grove, Runcorn was prosecuted recently at Warrington Magistrates Court after the deposit of waste, including refuse sacks, in the communal bin storage area at Laburnum Grove in June 2024.
Due to partnership working between Halton Borough Council’s Community Safety & Protection Enforcement Team and Halton Housing’s Estate Services Team, Ms Ryder was identified as a potential suspect in the case.
Ms Ryder was given the opportunity to provide the Council with any information regarding any involvement she may have had with the waste being deposited. However she failed to co-operate with the Council at the first time of asking.
In order for the Council continue with the investigation, a Section 108 Notice in accordance with the Environment Act 1995 was served on Ms Ryder inviting her to attend a recorded interview, held under caution, in September.
The Notice put a legal obligation on Ms Ryder to attend the interview and any failure to do so, without reasonable cause, could lead to prosecution. She failed to attend the interview, hindering the Council investigation and the case proceeded to Magistrates Court. Ms Ryder did not attend court, nor did she submit a plea to the Courts and the case was heard in her absence. Ms Ryder was subsequently convicted of the offence, receiving a criminal record, a fine of £660, was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £264 and the Council’s costs of £281.
Mr Nicolae Macula, 29, of Foster Street, Widnes was prosecuted at Warrington Magistrates Court following continuous deposits of refuse sacks and household waste in the entry behind his property between May and September of 2024.
After an investigation carried out by Halton Borough Council’s Community Safety & Protection Enforcement Team, Mr Macula was identified as a potential suspect in the case.
A Section 108 Notice in accordance with the Environment Act 1995 was served on Mr Macula inviting him to attend a recorded interview, held under caution, in September. The Notice put a legal obligation on him to attend and any failure to do so, without reasonable cause, could lead to prosecution.
Mr Macula failed to attend the interview, hindering the Council investigation and the case proceeded to Magistrates Court. Mr Macula did not attend court, nor did he submit a plea, and the case was heard in his absence.
He was subsequently convicted of the offence, receiving a criminal record, a fine of £660, was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £264 and the Council’s costs of £248.