Illegal scrap man stopped by police with lorry filled with metal

A landscape gardener-turned-scrap man has been ordered to pay £1,600 after he was prosecuted by South Gloucestershire Council for illegally transporting scrap metal.

Leonard Loveridge, 56, of Broadlands Drive in Lawrence Weston, was stopped by police while driving a whiteflat bed van filled with scrap inluding a bicycle and a bed in Larch Road i n Staple Hill in August this year.

It was discovered that Loveridge, who was on his way to Avonmouth to sell the metal, did not have a required Scrfape Metal Dealers Licence for South Gloucestershire, or any Waste Trasnfer Notes for metal collected.

He was summoned to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court on Monday, January 23. However, he did not appear. In his absences, he was found guilty of the offence of not having a licence, and was fined £660, ordered to pay costs of £676 and pay a victim surcharge of £264.

Councillor Rachael Hunt, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This offence was discovered by the police, who then passed it on to the council for prosecution as we are the authority responsible for enforcing waste licences for South Gloucestershire.

“This should serve as a warning to those who flout the law in our area that we will not hesitate to take action when people or businesses are found to be acting illegally.

“Those who run scrap metal or waste collection businesses must make sure they have the correct licences for carrying these types of materials. We encourage the public and businesses to always ask for their waste carrier’s registration number and ask to see their waste transfer note to ensure their waste is being disposed of legally.”

People using scrap metal collectors should check if they have a licence by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or by checking on their website here.