A VAN owner has been prosecuted by the courts after committing two separate incidents of fly-tipping.

Alex McColl was taken to court by Warrington Borough Council following investigations into reports of rubbish being dumped.

This came after the council received reports of occupants in a silver Ford Transit van fly-tipping waste at Howley Lane in Howley and Blackbrook Square in Padgate

The council investigated the incidents and was able to connect the van with McColl, with witness accounts at the two different locations assisting the investigation.

The former incident occurred on August 23 last year, when the 27-year-old dumped tyres, plastic containers, signage, wood and other plastic items on land at JBV Group Holdings Ltd.

Less than a week later, on August 29, the defendant, of Henshall Avenue in Latchford, again dumped a large white sack containing household waste on land at Blackbrook Square.

Having initially pleaded not guilty, he changed his pleas to guilty on both counts at a hearing before Warrington Magistrates’ Court.

His previous convictions include intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance criminal damage, for which he received a suspended prison sentence.

This came after a huge emergency service presence closed Latchford swing bridge over concerns for the safety of a man on the structure.

For his fly-tipping offences, McColl was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including 60 hours of unpaid work and a surcharge to fund victim services of £114.

A statement was issued following the hearing by David Boyer, director of environment and transport for Warrington Borough Council.

He said: “This is a good example of members of the public working cooperatively with us to identify and apprehend an offender.

“We will always pursue effective lines of enquiry and use all our available powers to tackle fly-tipping, which causes a real blight on local areas.

“Vehicle owners should be aware that they can face substantial fines if their vehicle is used in a fly-tipping incident.

“This applies whether the owner claims they were aware of the illegal activity or not.”

Residents can provide information in relation to fly-tipping incidents at warrington.gov.uk/fly-tipping