A FATHER of three has been jailed for dumping more than 11 tons of commercial waste at Harefield Civic Amenity Site on numerous occasions without paying the required fees.
A District Judge described Patrick Stokes’ actions as appalling and said he had no regard for authority when sentencing him to 14 weeks during a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.
Stokes, 48, of Magnolia Street, West Drayton, admitted seven counts of making off without paying and three counts of entering the site when banned from doing so.
Stokes was also ordered to pay £5,000 compensation to Hillingdon Council to cover the costs of clearing up after him.
In mitigation, the court was told Stokes was unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit. He was paid to collect the waste from traveller sites at £20 per visit.
District Judge Wright said: “I find this extremely serious - so serious in fact that it crosses the custody threshold.
“You have a profound sense of entitlement. You cannot expect the local authority to clear up all this mess.”
Stokes was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here