A Devizes woman has been convicted after dumping rubbish on a bench in a bus stop.
25-year-old Chelsea Reason was prosecuted by Wiltshire Council after fly-tipping two bags full of waste in the village of Fyfield, near Marlborough, last November.
The defendant pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste, an offence under Environmental Protection Act 1990, at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 25 July.
On 20 November 2024, a Fyfield resident witnessed Reason parking her car near the junction of Priestly Cottages and the A4.
She was seen removing two bags from her boot, carrying them into the shelter and then leaving empty-handed.
The witness reported the incident to a passing council worker, who referred the matter to the Environmental Enforcement team at Wiltshire Council.
The bags were found to contain domestic waste, PPE and nitrous oxide canisters.
Reason, of Sheep Street, Devizes, was later interviewed under caution and issued a fixed penalty notice for £1,000 – which she failed to pay and resulted in legal action via the court.
Magistrates fined her just £615. However, the defendant must also pay £385 in court costs. As a result, she’ll have a criminal conviction on her record.
As part of Wiltshire Council’s ‘We’re Targeting Fly-tippers’ (WTF) campaign, the resident who reported the offence will receive high street vouchers as a reward for their help.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding, said: “There is really no excuse for fly-tipping, and that is why we are committed to holding any offenders accountable.
“Anyone caught fly-tipping can be issued with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice or be taken to court, where they could face an unlimited fine or imprisonment.
“Miss Reason could have avoided the court action by paying her fixed penalty notice but failed to do so – leaving us no choice but to take legal action.
“I’d like to thank the resident who assisted us and helped us bring this case to court.
“I encourage anyone who spots a fly-tip in the county, or someone disposing of their waste illegally, to report it to us using MyWilts.
“In doing so, they could receive a reward of up to £200 in gift vouchers if the information they provide leads to a successful prosecution, or a fixed penalty notice being paid.”
