Hampshire fly-tippers dumped waste including fridge at walking spot

David Hill, 69, and Stuart Haines, 43, were two of the three men who have pleaded guilty to the fly-tip at Lee Drove in Lee, near Romsey.

Test Valley Borough Council told Southampton Magistrates' Court that the single rural track is a “particular hotspot for fly-tipping”.

On June 19, 2022, Hill, of Cosworth Drive, Dibden and Haines, of Pyle Gardens, Kings Barton, Winchester, were filmed unloading household waste from the back of a truck.

The pair, and their co-defendant who has not yet been sentenced, were seen exiting the truck, with Hill coming from the driver's side and the other two on the passenger side.

READ MORE: Southampton road closed due to fly-tipped waste

They then unloaded the waste, which was mostly contained in black bags, and threw it into a nearby hedge.

Representing the council, Sheelagh Evans said Haines dumped a fridge during the incident which could be “hazardous” because of the gasses it contains.

She added that the trip “could have taken the waste to a recycling centre but because they are in a commercial vehicle, there would have been a charge”.

All three were interviewed and pleaded guilty to depositing without an environmental permit controlled or extractive west on land.

Representing himself, Hill told magistrates that the truck was registered in his name but that he had given Mr Haines the money to buy it.

He claimed that he hadn’t been driving on the day and asked magistrates not to disqualify him as he has just secured a job as a lorry driver.

READ MORE: Fire fears over fly-tipping outside abandoned Southampton pub

“I’m a bit disgusted with myself because I kept straight for 10 years. I would never do it again. I was wrong and I admit I was wrong.”

Mitigating for Haines, Barry Keel said his client had “fallen on hard times” having broken up with his partner.

He said he had been using the truck to move his partner out of the home and that the truck would have been removed had he not taken part.

Stuart Haines outside Southampton Magistrates' Court (Image: NQ)

Mr Keel added that the items that were dumped had come from Hill’s garden.

Sentencing the pair separately, magistrate Judith Maddox said: “This court takes fly-tipping of any sort very seriously.”

Both men were given community orders of 12 months with 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

They were also fined £120 each and both were ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £303 costs.