WIGAN BUILDER DUMPED WASTE ON SALFORD STREET AFTER FAMILY ROW

John Paul Oczerklewicz of Wigan Road, Aspull, was caught on CCTV camera dumping a plasterer’s tub containing off cuts of carpet, underlay, general building waste, plastic a jagged piece of glass and other rubbish at Bramley Street at 4.50pm on Sunday January 22. 

His van was traced and when questioned by council officers he apologised and said after they contacted him he had gone back to try and remove the items.

Mr Oczerklewicz, (dob 17/06/53)  who trades as JPO Builders pleaded guilty to one offence of illegally dumping waste contrary to S33(1) and S33(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

He was fined £350, ordered to pay costs of £250, compensation of £173.65 and a victim surcharge of £35 after appearing at Salford and Manchester magistrates court on Tuesday November 21.

The court heard that Mr  Oczerklewicz told officers he had been driving around in his van after a family row broke out at his partner’s home. He was upset and moved the items to reach a mobile phone underneath them to call his son. After speaking on the phone he dumped the items on the street. He said the rubbish came from his own house.

He said:

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“I wasn’t thinking right. I wish I hadn’t done it. I am sorry for wasting peoples’ time.”

Speaking after the case Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, said:

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“A moment’s thoughtlessness has cost Mr Oczerklewicz and Salford taxpayers dearly. He now has a criminal record and we have wasted taxpayers money cleaning up the mess he left. It was all totally unnecessary.”

Salford City Council receives over 280 reports every month of illegal flytipping and spends  approximately £140,000 every year on investigation, waste removal, cleansing and waste disposal.  In 2014 it launched Operation Pandora to investigate and prosecute flytippers. Forty eight people have now been successfully prosecuted for 58 offences (some committed more than one) and more prosecutions are pending.