A man caught dumping a car battery at Osterley Park has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 for fly-tipping.

Waseem Ahmed Ali, of St Crispin’s Close, Southall, was ordered to pay £1,282 after pleaded guilty to fly-tipping at a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.

Although Ali had previously confessed to the offense to Ealing Council officers, he neglected to pay the £400 fixed penalty notice, which led to him being summoned to appear in court.

At a court hearing on 7 February 2022, evidence was presented showing that on Friday 29 October 2021 at approximately 10am, Waseem Ahmed Ali was caught on a resident’s CCTV fly-tipping a car battery. He took the battery from the boot of a car and discarded it into the bushes at Osterley Park.

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After receiving the CCTV footage and a witness statement from the resident, the council enforcement officer was able to obtain the registered keeper’s details.

Acknowledging his responsibility for the act of fly-tipping, Mr. Ali, who had possession of the rental car at the time of the offense, agreed to pay a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £400. He failed to pay the fine and was summoned to court.

With regards to fly-tipping offenses, magistrates have the authority to impose a prison sentence of up to 12 months and/or a fine as part of their sentencing powers.

For admitting his offences to council officers and pleading guilty in court, the judge reduced his fine from £600 to £400. Despite the reduction in his fine, Ali was still required to pay legal expenses of £842 and a victim surcharge of £40, resulting in a total payment of £1,282.

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Councillor Deirdre Costigan, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, said: "Car batteries are classed as a hazardous material and they need specialist disposal. They can be taken to the Greenford Re-use and Recycle Centre free of charge, and there is no excuse for a battery being dumped – let alone thrown into the bushes of a park used by the public."

"We are thankful to the resident who spotted the offence taking place. The council takes all fly-tipping seriously and has adopted a zero-tolerance policy. It is anti-social, costs public money to clear up and is potentially dangerous to others."

"We hope this decision by the court will make it clear to the small minority who fly-tip that the council will not tolerate this behaviour and that we will take legal action where we can."