A PERSISTENT fly-tipper who threatened a member of the public with a crowbar during one incident has received a jail sentence.

Matthew Hunt, 32, of St Boniface Court, North Baddesley, was sentenced at West Hampshire Magistrates’ Court on Friday, June 11 after admitting three New Forest District Council (NFDC) fly-tipping cases.

The court heard Hunt was a persistent fly-tipper, active in the New Forest, Southampton, and Test Valley areas.

He also pleaded guilty to two charges brought by Southampton City Council (SCC) and the most serious charge for similar offences brought by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC).

Hunt was given four months in custody for fly-tipping at Brook in the New Forest National Park on July 5, 2020. 

On that occasion, he also threatened a member of the public with a crowbar.

For each of the other two NFDC matters - which referred to two separate fly-tipping incidents at Bartley on June 13, 2020 - he was given two months' custody concurrent to each other, but consecutive to the other sentences.

He was also given two months' custody, concurrent to each other but consecutive to the other sentences, for each of the two SCC matters and the TVBC matter.

He was jailed for a total of eight months.

Derek Darling, NFDC lead officer for environmental crime investigations, attended court and said: “This illegal behaviour shows a total disregard for our beautiful part of the world, using our quiet countryside lanes to dispose of waste.

“The two fly-tips on the same day by Hunt show how active he was daily.

“We would like to thank the witnesses who came forward which led to this successful prosecution and we will not stop in our efforts to bring offenders like Hunt to court.”

The case combined offences from NFDC, SCC and TVBC, but it was the NFDC charges which attracted the heaviest sentences.

Cllr David Russell, NFDC Portfolio Holder for People and Places, said: “Our enforcement and legal teams put a lot of work in to achieving this prosecution and conviction, obtaining statements and carrying out visits, a task made difficult at the height of lockdown.

“This prison sentence demonstrates to anyone thinking of dumping waste illegally that we will take action, and that we will pursue these criminals to the full extent of the law.”

For more on how to report fly-tipping visit: newforest.gov.uk

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