On Thursday 6 November 2025, at Hereford Magistrates Court, Thomas Hanrahan (46) and Eileen Smith (48), both of Caravan Site, Pershore, pleaded guilty to fly-tipping, having originally denied the offence at an earlier hearing in April 2025.

The court heard that on the evening of 30 August 2024, a dilapidated caravan was found dumped on Eunice Saunders Way, a single-track lane through woodland near Ross-on-Wye. The discovery prompted a detailed investigation by Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection Team.

Although no evidence was found inside the caravan, officers traced the incident to a resident in Drybrook, Gloucestershire, who had advertised on Facebook for someone to remove the caravan. Hanrahan and Smith responded to the advert and collected the caravan for £150 in cash.

Ring doorbell footage from the seller, CCTV from a neighbouring business, and dashcam footage from a passing motorist all helped officers to identify the couple and link their vehicle to the fly-tipping site. The caravan was found dumped just two miles from where it was collected.

Smith, who was the registered keeper of the van, claimed she was not the woman shown in the footage, but was found guilty under Section 33(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which makes vehicle owners liable for waste offences carried out using their vehicle.

Hanrahan was found to have acted with deliberate intention and was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £1,205, while Smith, found to have acted negligently, was ordered to pay £427.

Charles Yarnold, Head of Regulatory and Technical Services at Herefordshire Council, said:

This case highlights the lengths our enforcement teams will go to investigate and prosecute fly-tipping offences. Even when waste is dumped by individuals from outside the county, we will pursue every line of enquiry to bring offenders to justice.

Fly-tipping blights our countryside, costs taxpayers money to clear, and will not be tolerated in Herefordshire.

Cllr Barry Durkin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Community Safety and Emergency Planning, said:

Herefordshire residents rightly expect the council to take firm action against those who dump waste illegally. This successful prosecution demonstrates our commitment to protecting our county’s environment, maintaining its beauty and holding offenders to account.

It is important to note that everyone has a duty to dispose of their waste responsibly; if you pay someone to take it away, always check they are a registered waste carrier.

The maximum penalty for fly tipping is a £50,000 fine and / or 5 years imprisonment.