Wiltshire Council has successfully prosecuted a Swindon-based waste operator who travelled into Wiltshire to illegally dump construction waste.

Mr Ashleigh Witts, 36, of Galsworthy Close, Swindon, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday 29 May, where he pleaded guilty to fly-tipping and failing to produce waste transfer documentation.

He was given a Community Order, requiring him to complete 210 hours of unpaid work, reduced to 140 hours due to his early guilty plea, and to pay £1,114 in fines, costs and a victim surcharge. A Community Order is a non-custodial sentence for offences considered too serious for a fine alone but not requiring imprisonment and requires offenders to complete rehabilitative activities such as unpaid work.

The prosecution followed an investigation by Wiltshire Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team after a large fly-tip was reported on land off the A419 at Latton, near Cricklade, on 23 March 2025.

When officers attended the site, they discovered a significant quantity of construction waste, including roofing materials such as felt, chipboard and tiles. Evidence linked the waste to a Swindon-based roofing business, which assisted the officers to trace the waste carrier, Mr Witts, trading as ARW Property Services. In light of this cooperation, no further action was taken against the roofing company.

However, vehicle tracking data showed that instead of disposing of the waste lawfully, Mr Witts transported it into Wiltshire and dumped it illegally. He was also found to be operating without a valid waste carrier’s licence. Due to legal time limits for prosecuting this offence, it was not possible to include this charge in the court proceedings.

Despite multiple requests, Mr Witts failed to attend an interview until several months later, where he gave no comment responses. He also failed to provide legally required waste transfer notes and did not pay two fixed penalty notices, leaving the council no option but to pursue a prosecution.

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding, said: “This case sends a very clear message – we will take action against anyone committing environmental crime within our county.

“Mr Witts was trusted to dispose of waste responsibly but instead chose to dump it illegally, harming our environment and local communities. On top of that, he failed to operate legally as a waste carrier and ignored multiple opportunities to cooperate with our investigation.

“Fly-tipping is a serious offence. If you are paid to handle and dispose of waste, you have a legal duty to do so properly. If you don’t, you can face prosecution, significant financial penalties and other sanctions, as this case clearly demonstrates. We will continue to investigate and take action wherever necessary.”

As part of its Stop at Source (SAS) campaign, the council is urging residents and businesses to take simple steps to protect themselves when arranging for waste to be removed:

• Check the person removing your waste is registered as a licensed waste carrier
• Ask where the waste will be taken

• Record their name, contact details and vehicle registration

• Request a receipt or waste transfer note and keep it as proof

Failure to do so could result in you being held liable if your waste is fly-tipped, which may lead to a fine or prosecution.

To find out more about how the council is tackling fly-tipping in Wiltshire, or to report an incident, visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fly-tipping.