A MAN who tipped 100 tonnes of pungent illegal waste at Kingfisher Special School in Oldham has been given a 12-month prison sentence.

Francis Anthony Heaton of Gorton, Manchester pleaded guilty on 18 December 2018 at Tameside Magistrates Court, after the school was left with a bill of £22,197 to remove waste that he illegally deposited.

The Environment Agency brought the case against Heaton after he was arrested by Greater Manchester Police for dumping the stinking processed household waste (Trommel fines) on land used as a car park at the school.

A representative for the special school confirmed to Greater Manchester Police that the gates had been secured on Friday evening. But when the caretaker arrived on Monday morning the lock had been cut and removed to allow access for the waste to be deposited.

The special needs pupils, some with life limiting conditions, had their education disrupted for two weeks due to the waste.

The children were unable to use the outdoor education facilities due to an insect infestation in the waste and the risk to the pupils from the infestation.

Kingfisher Special School was helped by Oldham Council to remove the waste, but the cost of the waste removal will fall to the school to pay that is the equivalent to the cost of a teaching assistant’s annual salary or the school’s annual budget for its learning resources.

In April, 2018 r Heaton was fined at Tameside Magistrates for driving the vehicle without the correct driving licence, with false plates, no insurance or a valid MOT certificate and had his driving licence endorsed with penalty points.

Greater Manchester Police seized the vehicle and following the statutory period the vehicle was crushed as no owner claimed the vehicle or made a claim for it.

Mark Easedale, area environment manager for Greater Manchester said: “This case along with others this year demonstrates how seriously we take illegal waste crime.

“When people deliberately ignore the law, as Mr Heaton has, we take robust enforcement action against offenders to protect communities and the environment.

“He created a completely unacceptable risk to local people and disrupted the education of vulnerable children.

“This case is particularly upsetting as the Kingfisher Special School has had to pay to get the site cleared and it will impact on the education facilities available to the pupils. We would like to remind all landowners and occupiers that, as in this case, they may be required to clear waste which has been deposited illegally at their own expense and may be prosecuted if they fail to do so. If you have any suspicions that waste is being deposited on your land please contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 or the police as soon as possible.”

In mitigation Heaton’s barrister told the court that he accepts there was damage to the community and he pleaded guilty on the day of his trial.

Judge Lawton told the court he believed Heaton knew full well what he was doing and that it was a deliberate act. Illegal waste and fly tipping are a drain on precious resources. He said a message must go out and the consequences be severe which is why he gave Mr Heaton a 12 month prison sentence.