Authorities have hailed the conviction of another fly-tipper who has been prosecuted for illegally dumping waste around a Weymouth housing estate.

Anthony Maurice Knowles, 41, from Weymouth pleaded guilty at the magistrates court to two instances of fly-tipping and a further two matters under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act of failing to contain waste.

It follows work by enforcement officers from Dorset Waste Partnership and Dorset Council’s legal team.

DWP said last year it investigated several fly-tipping reports of building materials being illegally dumped in and around the Dorset Close and Wiltshire Avenue areas of Westham.

It also received a report that Knowles had appeared to have started renovation works and was seen to remove construction waste from the rear of his property using a green wheelie bin.

Construction waste was then discovered in a nearby alleyway.

Subsequently, officers visited his home to serve papers requiring him to attend an interview at the Trading Standards Offices in Dorchester.

However, there was no contact from the defendant and he did not attend the interview.

On October 15, 2018, officers were again alerted to two further fly tips in the area, which contained waste attributable to Knowles. The next day, officers returned to Knowles’ property and attempted to speak to him. Following a ‘sustained period of threats and violence’ from the defendant, the police were called. However, Knowles left the scene before they arrived.

On 2 November, Knowles was arrested for several matters, including fly-tipping, and placed in custody. In interview, he denied any fly-tipping or having received the papers requiring him to attend an interview.

On 26 November, enforcement officers received another report regarding from an Aster Housing staff member who had witnessed Knowles again moving waste away from his home in a wheelie bin. A large amount of household waste was subsequently discovered on land adjacent to the community centre in Dorset Close. Officers found a substantial amount of household waste at the scene, some of which was identical to some that had been photographed in the garden of his home.

The case against Knowles has now been adjourned until October 16 at Poole Magistrates Court for sentencing. However, Knowles must appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on 4 October for sentencing for several CPS matters (two of which are linked to this case as they relate to offences against the DWP’s Enforcement Officers) and the Court will be invited to consider sentencing for these additional four linked matters as well.

Crime is costing taxpayers' thousands every year

Cllr Tony Alford, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Customer, Community and Regulatory Services, said of the Knowles’ case: “This is another great example of partnership working by the Dorset Waste Partnership with other agencies including Dorset Police, Aster Housing and Dorset Council Legal services. Fly-tipping is a crime, costing the Dorset taxpayer thousands of pounds every year."

He added: “We will not tolerate the actions of those who illegally dump waste and we certainly won’t accept threatening or aggressive behaviour toward our enforcement officers.”

Find out how you can help in the fight against fly-tipping by visiting dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/tip-off

*This prosecution follows another case against a fly-tipper, reported in yesterday's Echo. Serial fly-tipper Dominic Adrian Woods, 31, dumped waste around the countryside near Dorchester. He was given a 12-month community order and ordered to pay compensation of £800.