Jail for flytipper who dumped 20 tonnes of waste in Beckton

Patrick Egan. Picture: Newham Council (Image: Newham Council)

CCTV footage captured Patrick Egan, from Grange Road, Grays in Essex, driving a tipper truck full of waste onto Eric Clarke Lane at around noon on December 7 last year.

The pictures show that after briefly pulling up and getting out of the truck, Egan returned to the cab, and drove off, tipping the whole 20 tonnes of waste onto the carriageway, as a bus on the busy route travels in the opposite direction.

Egan, 30, had previously admitted three offences under the environmental protection act at Thames Magistrates Court.

The magistrates heard evidence from Newham Council’s fly tip task force officers, and judged the offences too serious to impose an adequate sentence, so they sent the case to Snaresbrook Crown Court, where he was jailed for eight months yesterday.

Both courts heard how after the offence, Egan was stopped in his truck by police in Essex - at the time, the vehicle was filled with another load of waste.

In interview he admitted the offences, and further offences of driving while disqualified.

He also admitted he was paid to illegally dump the waste.

The total cost of clearing up the building waste, which was blocking the highway and the entrance to riding stables, came to £3,827.

The court was told that Egan has a history of driving while disqualified, the most recent disqualification being imposed just two months before the fly tipping incident.

Cllr Rachel Tripp, cabinet member for the environment, said: “This man is a menace to the people of Newham. His fly tipping is absolutely disgraceful, dangerous and clearly motivated purely by criminal profit.

“I would urge anyone who needs to dispose of large amounts of waste to check the credentials of the person they pay to remove it. If the person doesn’t have a valid waste carriers licence, and the rubbish is traced back to you, you could face prosecution yourself.”