A fly-tipper who took to Facebook to advertise their illegal services has found themselves in front of Magistrates after being tracked down by the Council.
Between July 27, 2020 and May 26, 2021, Colin O’Grady, 51, of Paxton Place, Beswick, was paid to dispose of waste. However, following an investigation by Manchester City Council it transpired that waste was being fly-tipped across north Manchester.
The waste collected by O’Grady was found dumped at locations in Gorton, Harpurhey, Moston and Openshaw.
When Biffa operatives were alerted to waste which had been dumped, they attempted to determine its origin by meticulously going through it in search of evidence.
Officers working for the Council’s Environmental Crimes Team contacted residents who could be tracked down due to their waste, and were then informed those residents had paid O’Grady to get rid of it. It was found that he had advertised his services under the moniker of ‘OG Rubbish Removals’.
O’Grady was contacted on several occasions to attend an interview under caution, however these were not responded to.
At a hearing held at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on September 7, 2023 O’Grady pleaded guilty to five offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
At a sentencing hearing held on Friday, 17 November 2023, he was sentenced to a 12 month community order, which required him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80, and court costs of £800.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said: “Fly-tipping is a deeply selfish act and causes nothing but detriment to our communities.
“People do not deserve to have waste and filth strewn across their roads, simply because one individual decided they could make a quick profit. As we have seen in this case, this mindset did not pay off and the defendant will suffer the consequences.
“I am grateful to our Environmental Crime Team and legal officers who have successfully led this prosecution, and I want to reassure residents that if they are the victims of fly-tipping the Council will investigate and bring offenders to justice.”
