A man from Bradley Stoke has been handed an 18-month Community Order and ordered to pay a total of £2,633 in costs following a prosecution brought by South Gloucestershire Council and Avon and Somerset Police after he became physically aggressive with staff and hurled waste around at the entrance to Little Stoke Sort It recycling centre.
Brett Maloney, 54, of Orchard Gate in Bradley Stoke appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on Thursday 30 November. He pleaded guilty to a charge of fly-tipping brought by the council and five charges presented by the police – a public order offence, criminal damage and common assault, along with two unrelated assaults. For the combined offences, Maloney was handed a Community Order for 18 months, with 140 hours unpaid work and 14 hours of rehabilitation activity. He was also ordered to pay costs to the council and Crown Prosecution Service totaling £2,633.
The court heard that on 25 May 2023 Maloney parked his tipper truck outside the Little Stoke Sort It recycling centre entrance as it could not pass under the height barrier. The recycling centre is for domestic waste only and has a six foot height barrier to prevent trucks bringing commercial waste on site. It also has a strict policy for health and safety considerations that prohibits members of the public parking outside and carrying waste into the site. This is clearly stated on signs displayed outside the recycling centre.
After pulling up near the entrance, Maloney proceeded to carry waste from his vehicle onto the site. Three different members of staff approached him and informed him of the restrictions. He ignored them, continuing to walk on site and deposit waste.
When the recycling centre staff members started loading some of the waste back onto his vehicle, Maloney became physically aggressive to them and began hurling waste from the rear of his truck onto the road, preventing any vehicles from coming onto or leaving the site. After he had completely emptied the rear of his truck, he left the area.
He was subsequently traced and informed that the incident had been captured on CCTV footage. He was cautioned and declined to comment.
Councillor Leigh Ingham, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This was a shocking case, showing complete disregard for the recycling centre’s rules and totally unacceptable aggression towards staff members just trying to do their jobs.
“This man’s actions were unsafe, intimidating, and prevented other visitors from accessing and leaving the site as well.
“I’m very pleased to see this sentence handed to him and hope it deters others from acting this way.”
Residents who see illegal fly tipping are encouraged to report it by contacting the council’s StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, emailing streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/flytipping
