A fly tipper from Nelson has been sent to jail for dumping rubbish in Chorley.
Ryan Clough received a three-month sentence when he appeared at Chorley Magistrates’ Court.
Clough (26), from Highfield Crescent, was caught on CCTV tipping several sheets of corrugated roofing down the side of a garage in Whittle-le-Woods and trying to conceal it with leaves.
Coun. Adrian Lowe, who oversees environmental issues at Chorley Council, said: “I hope the severity of the sentence will make people think twice about dumping rubbish and ensure that people dispose of it properly rather than risk a jail sentence.”
Clough was sentenced to 90 days immediate custody after the homeowner’s CCTV camera caught him dumping the rubbish down the side of his garage near Chorley Old Road.
Previously, magistrates had heard that while pretending to work on the engine of a car they had used to carry the rubbish, two men were seen waiting until nobody was passing before removing the corrugated roofing, which often contains asbestos, from the roof rack and dumping it at the side of the garage.
One of the men then noticed the camera and concealed the sheets with leaves.
The sentence was reduced by one third to 60 days in recognition that the defendant pleaded guilty to the offence at the first available opportunity.
But the magistrates noted that Clough was devious in his actions by attempting to cover his tracks.
The court also ordered that Clough must pay the council’s costs of £1,414 in full within 30 days of his release from custody.
Coun. Lowe added: “I would like this case to be an example that the council take incidents of fly-tipping extremely seriously as they cause a detrimental effect on the appearance and cleanliness of our borough.”