A PROLIFIC fly-tipper has been ordered to pay almost £5,000 for transporting waste without a licence — after being caught via an advert in The Bolton News.

Christopher Gallagher failed to attend Bolton Magistrates Court and was convicted in his absence of an offence under the Control of Pollution Act. He was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £760 court costs.

Cllr Sufrana Bashir-Ismail, Bolton Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “We welcome the penalty imposed by the courts as it demonstrates that waste removal without a licence is illegal and anti-social behaviour.

“We hope this conviction will deter anyone from disposing of waste without going through the proper channels.”

Gallagher, aged 36, of Glynne Street, Farnworth, was first convicted at Bolton Magistrates Court for fly-tipping offences in July, 2008, when he was sentenced to 300 hours unpaid work and a one-year supervision order.

Through reports from members of the public, the council became aware that despite this conviction, Gallagher was continuing to advertise his services in The Bolton News and was transporting rubbish from households for cash, without being an authorised carrier.

It was also suspected that the waste was being dumped illegally.

Officers from Bolton Council gathered intelligence and spied on Gallagher to gather evidence for a prosecution. They posed as residents and Gallagher attended an address and removed waste in exchange for cash, without having a licence to do so.

Each year, Bolton Council spends around £1.25 million dealing with fly-tipping.

To find out more about the requirements regarding waste carriers licences and environmental permitting regulations visit the Environment Agency at environment-agency.

gov.uk/waste

MORE STORIES: Is it Christmas already? Click here to find out.