Southampton fly-tipper sent to prison

A Southampton fly-tipper, who dumped waste across the city, including in a cemetery, has been sent to prison and been given a nationwide ASBO.

Southampton City Council launched a two year investigation to catch Marcus Bairstow, 36, of Windermere Avenue, Southampton, who cost the tax payer more than £50,000 in clean-up costs.

And the council's efforts were rewarded this week, after securing the first prison sentence for a council led prosecution for fly-tipping in Hampshire, and one of the most severe sentences ever known in the country for fly tipping.

At Southampton Crown Court Bairstow pleaded guilty to six charges of the unlicensed deposit of controlled waste, three of breaching a duty of care as respects to waste, and one of failing to comply with a further notice to furnish information.

He also asked for 11 other offences to be considered.

He was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, which was today reduced to two years, however a five year ASBO remains, which prevents him from carrying waste in his truck or depositing waste without certification anywhere in England or Wales.

Areas where Bairstow was caught fly-tipping included:

*Multiple incidences of fly tipping in the church grounds of Holy Trinity church
*The back of a Somerfield Supermarket
*Southampton residents' garage areas
*Various alleyways and walkways
*A number of city industrial estates

Councillor Royston Smith, leader of Southampton City Council said: "I am delighted that Southampton City Council has caught the city's most prolific fly-tipper and brought him to justice. This is the most severe sentence for a fly-tipper ever handed out in the country.

"Mr Bairstow caused misery for residents across various parts of the city, who saw public and private land spoilt with illegally dumped rubbish. He was even shameless enough to dump waste in a cemetery.

"It took a lot of hard work to catch Mr Bairstow and an exhaustive legal process followed. But we got the right result.

"This sends a clear message to residents that we do not tolerate people dumping their waste illegally. We will investigate and we will prosecute them, no matter how long it takes.

"These people are not only blighting the environment, but are also putting residents at risk. It is not fair that the law abiding majority should have to pay to clear up after a very selfish minority.

"The council provides many free and legal ways for disposing of waste. There is no excuse for fly-tipping and we will not tolerate it."

The maximum sentence for fly-tipping is five years in prison.