News-Fly-tipper caught on CCTV

Published April 23, 2025 9.20am

A man who was caught on camera fly-tipping in a popular dog walking location has appeared before magistrates.

Waste fly-tipped by Owen Gilbert near Roddymoor, Crook

In the footage, Owen Gilbert, of Hope Street, Crook, can be seen removing household waste from the back of a van and hurling it into the undergrowth in an attempt to conceal it.

The incident occurred in June 2024 on private land off the B6298 close to the nearby villages of Billy Row and Roddymoor, which is frequently targeted by fly-tippers.

Magistrates in Peterlee heard how one of our neighbourhood wardens discovered the waste during a routine patrol of the area. The warden checked footage captured by covert CCTV cameras, installed as part of efforts to crackdown on fly-tipping, and was able to watch the whole incident unfold.

This included gaining a clear view of the van's registration number, which led him to Gilbert, who was the registered keeper of the vehicle.

Guilty plea

During interview, the 21-year-old denied he was responsible for the offence, claiming he had sold the vehicle before the incident occurred. However, he later admitted he had lied about the sale of the vehicle.

Gilbert pleaded guilty to breaching the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by knowingly causing and permitting household waste to be deposited at the location.

He said he had fly-tipped after seeing other waste in the area but accepted that he should not have done it.

Magistrates ordered Gilbert to pay a total of £877.80 in fine, victim surcharge and costs.

Unacceptable

Ian Hoult, our interim head of environment, said: "This incident took place in a rural area close to a footpath, which is used by dog walkers and people wishing to exercise and enjoy the countryside. It's unacceptable to assume it's okay to dump waste here or anywhere else in County Durham, especially when there are many ways to dispose of rubbish and unwanted items responsibly.

"Mr Gilbert's actions have left him with a criminal conviction and hundreds of pounds out of pocket. I hope this serves as a warning to anyone thinking of fly-tipping, that we take these crimes extremely seriously and will pursue those who flout the law."

We operate Household Waste and Recycling centres across the county, which are free for households. To find out more, visit Recycling centres (tips).

For information about other ways homes and businesses can dispose of waste responsibly - including how to arrange a bulky item collection - and to find out how to report fly-tipping, visit Report flytipping.