Businessman’s £515 bill for fly-tipping engine in residential street

A businessman who fly-tipped a car engine in a road – causing its closure until it was removed by council workers – has been ordered to pay £515.

Michael Shailes, of Lincoln Lane, Holbeach St Marks, dumped the engine near the house of a man with whom he had just had a disagreement.

Sally Burke, prosecuting for Boston Borough Council at Boston Magistrates’ Court on Monday (May 9), said Shailes (25) called at a property in St Mary’s Drive, Sutterton, where had had done business with the owner and his friend, and wanted to leave the engine believing it to be the property of the friend.

The homeowner refused to accept the engine so Shailes dumped it in the road outside, close to a junction.

The police were contacted and Shailes refused to remove the engine. He was them contacted by a borough council enforcement officer but failed to respond to three requests for a meeting.

The total clean-up, investigation and prosecution costs were £1,705.37. Shailes was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £500 towards costs plus a £15 victim surcharge.

Shailes admitted dumping the engine on June 30 last year, but said he had left it in the road by the kerb. He said it had been moved by the time a photograph presented to the court in evidence was taken.

The court was told his business was only two years old and he had not yet taken a wage but was living off savings and help his disabled father gave him.

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