A Brighton businessman has been ordered to pay almost £4,000 after pleading guilty to dumping tons of illegal rubbish in the city including fridges, sofas, beer barrels, tyres and builders rubble.
Daniel Brennan, of St Cuthmans Close, Brighton, traded as Sussex House and Rubbish Clearance and collected bulky items from households, pubs and building sites.
However, instead of disposing of the waste properly, environment enforcement officers discovered he had ditched many of the items on Whitehawk Road and nearby Wilson Avenue.
Brennan, who has now changed the name of his company and is trading under Sussex Clearances, defended himself but pleaded guilty claiming his business partner had disposed of the 5.7 tons of rubbish without his knowledge after they had a fall out.
Brennan, who has also lived in Plaistow Close, Whitehawk, admitted to six offences of flytipping under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and was ordered to pay a total of £3,943.52 – £188 fine on each of the six offence totalling £1,128, council’s costs of £2,645.52 and a surcharge of £170. He was given 14 days to pay.
Brennan, 30, had previously failed to attend court to face the charges, but handed himself into Hollingbury custody centre and faced magistrates the same day.
Cllr Gill Mitchell, chair of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “This prosecution sends out a clear message to people who carry out flytipping in our city – you will be found, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted.
“What’s most upsetting about this case is Mr Brennan had set himself up as a business to collect people’s unwanted rubbish and charge them to dispose of it, as they thought, legally. Instead, he chose to dump it on public land.
“Fly-tipping is not only illegal, it is irresponsible and can spread disease, encourage vermin and release toxic chemicals into the environment. It also means hazardous objects and chemicals are lying around where young children could be harmed.”
To report flytipping to the council please log onto www.reportaproblem.brighton-hove.gov.uk
Not really a businessman – a conman would be a better description
Is his house in St Cuthmans Close, Brighton a council house? If so he should be evicted. £4,000 it trivial fine for 5.7 tons of rubbish. What about a one or two hundred hours of community service as well to help clean things up.
This company held a cardboard collection with us and we have never had any problems nor waste complaints it’s a shame that a small business be slandered in such a way when we don’t know all the facts! It seems everyone has an opinion on these matters and ours is of complete satisfaction! Sussex Clearances we support you! Myself and my business does not and will not condone of illegally dumping waste, we are not representing the company just providing our experience through our feedback.
“slander – the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.” Are you suggesting that, in pleading guilty to the charge, Brennan slandered Sussex House and Rubbish Clearance?
Was probably your fridge from the pizza shop that was dumped Mr Khan
No sorry Mr White we are computer printer distribution company based in portslade, you obviously feel personally affected enough by this outcome to comment so knowingly and educated on something that has nothing to do with any of us let alone someone cowardly enough to comment but not leave they’re real name! Shame!
Mr Khan, I notice you haven’t responded to my earlier comment. You suggested that Brennan lied by pleading guilty: do you have any evidence to support your allegation?