Scrap metal offence costs man £650 in court fines

A man who collected scrap metal without the appropriate documents has been ordered to pay more than £650.

Kieran Husband, 22, from Houghton, was seen collecting scrap by a Durham County Council warden but was unable to produce controlled waste transfer notes.

He was taken to court by the council for the failure to produce, pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay £658.

Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard how the council warden was on duty on September 13 last year when he saw a van carrying scrap metal at Fencehouses.

The warden followed the vehicle until it pulled up at a tyre yard in Sunderland.

The council employee attempted to speak to the occupants of the van at the site but was prevented from doing so, with it eventually pulling away while his own vehicle was blocked in.

The warden later saw the same vehicle driving towards Seaham and pulling into a local scrapyard. Police arrived and spoke to the driver who identified himself as Husband, of Brinkburn Crescent.

Husband said he had a waster carrier’s licence but, when he produced the document, it was in the name of his father for whom Husband said he was working.

The defendant also told the warden he did not have a scrap licence badge, receipts for the scrap in the van or any tipping notes.

Husband pleaded guilty and told the court unknown people “dump stuff ” on his land and he cleans it up.

When asked why he had not produced the notes, the defendant said he would not write anything down while out collecting.

He was fined £480 and ordered to pay a £48 victim surcharge and £130 in costs.