Fly tippers jailed for four years each after dumping 80 metres of rubbish on Tooting Common

Jailed: Billy Smith (left) and James Rice (right) were each jailed for four years for a string of fly tipping offences
Kent Police
Laura Proto3 November 2015

Two prolific fly tippers who left an 80 metre long trail of rubbish across Tooting Common have both been jailed for four years, in what are believed to be some of the longest ever sentences handed down for the crime.

Billy Smith, 28, and James Rice, 35, were sentenced last week for a string of rubbish dumping offences across Tooting, South Norwood, Bromley, West Wickham, Sidcup, Keston and Sevenoaks.

The duo admitted the offences at Medway Magistrates’ Court in September and were remanded in custody until they were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court last week.

The court heard the two men would drive around in a tipper truck looking for homes that were being renovated and would cold call the homeowner or workers.

The pair would offer to dispose of waste legally for a competitive price but would instead dump it in the street or in local parks.

Dumped: Rubbish was left for 80 metres across Tooting Common
Wandsworth Council

Some of the flytips were so large, they blocked country lanes.

On June 3, the two men approached builder Leonard Panxhy who was working on a home in Moring Road, Tooting, and asked to take away his rubbish.

The men were paid to dispose of the waste, but instead a path of rubbish stretching for 80 metres across Tooting Common.

Smith, of Tillingbourne Green, Orpington, and Rice, of no fixed address, were later arrested by officers from Kent Police investigating serious flytipping incidents.

The pair were each sentenced to four years in prison for their roles in the rubbish dumping.

Maximum sentences for fly-tippers were increased to five years under new guidelines last year.

More of the debris

Councillor Jonathan Cook, environment spokesman, said: “This tough sentence should act as a severe warning to anyone tempted to flytip.

“The judge has sent out a very clear message about the fate that lies in store for anyone convicted of serious environmental crimes.”

Panxhy was last week ordered to pay £670 in fines and prosecution costs for his role in the fly tip.