Magistrates asked a man they had just ordered to pay almost £800 to act as a cautionary tale for other illegal waste carriers.
Allen Graham McKnight was fined and ordered to pay court costs after admitting to not having a licence to transport waste when he was stopped during an operation in Bradford last May.
When he appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court on Thursday 30 March, the court heard that a licence would have cost him a little over £100 – a fraction of what he ended up paying.
The joint operation between Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police was targeting illegal waste operators, and on 11 May 2022 officers stopped a Fort Transit that was being driven by McKnight on New Cross Street.
The vehicle contained damaged furniture and scrap metal, including a trampoline.
When asked if he had a licence McKnight (36), of Lister Avenue, said he did not.
He had planned to sell the waste on.
He was given a £300 fine, but told that if he produced a licence within 14 days the fine would be dropped.
He did not pay the fine, or provide a licence, and in August contacted the Council to say he was struggling to pay the £300.
It was then that the authority began legal proceedings, and McKnight was charged with being an “Unregistered carrier transporting controlled waste with a view to profit.”
Chair of the Bench Gill Arnold questioned why McKnight hadn’t taken the opportunity to buy a licence in the 14 day period he was given.
She said: “The first thing that springs to mind is the licence is around £100 and the fixed penalty is £300.
“Why on earth did you not think that it’s easier to pay for a licence and do this legally?”
McKnight said: “I don’t know. I’ve got a licence now.”
Mrs Arnold replied: “I know it is difficult times and people are trying to make money, and scrap metal needs to be removed, but it needs doing legally, otherwise everyone would go around doing this.”
He was given a £150 fine – less than the original penalty. However, this was because of the amount of court costs he would be ordered to pay. This included £577 costs to Bradford Council and a £60 surcharge.
In total he will have to pay £787.
After handing out the fine Mrs Arnold said: “This is a learning curve for you – it was a bad business move. I’m sure you won’t do it again.
“If you know anyone else operating this type of business, tell them what has happened to you today and tell them to make sure they have a licence.”
