A Wolverhampton man has been hit with a total bill of more than £2,700 after being convicted of fly-tipping household waste in a city alleyway.
How the offender was caught
The case began when bags of rubbish were illegally dumped in an alley between All Saints Road and Gower Street. Council clean-up crews discovered packaging within the bags that contained the address of Andrei Stoica.
This information was passed to the City of Wolverhampton Council's environmental crime team, who visited the address in July this year. Upon arrival, officers found more bagged household waste had been dumped at the same spot. A subsequent search of this new waste uncovered further items addressed to Stoica.
Refusal to cooperate leads to prosecution
When officers approached the resident at the property, he refused to give his name or any information about the incident. Later that month, a formal notice under the Environment Act 1995 was posted through his letterbox, requiring him to attend an interview at the civic centre.
Stoica failed to attend the interview, leading to prosecution. He was found guilty in his absence at Dudley Magistrates' Court on November 26 of obstructing investigating officers by failing to comply with their requests for assistance.
The court's ruling and council campaign
The magistrates imposed a £660 fine, ordered Stoica to pay a £264 victim surcharge, and awarded £1,795 in costs to the council. The total financial penalty amounts to £2,719. The council confirmed that the costs recovered will be reinvested into its environmental crime service.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, Cabinet Member for Resident Services, hailed the verdict as a "great result" demonstrating effective partnership work between council teams.
The prosecution supports the council's ongoing 'Shop a Tipper' campaign, which offers a £100 Enjoy Wolverhampton Gift Card to anyone whose information leads to the successful prosecution of a fly-tipper. Residents can report fly-tipping by calling 01902 552700 or online at the council's website.
