Mitchell Cooper jailed for asbestos fly-tip at Lee Drive, Romsey

Mitchell Cooper flouted environmental regulations by dumping a large green container full of asbestos, wood and car parts that spilled out and blocked Lee Drive, Romsey.

The road had to be closed for two days while council officers and a specialist waste disposal company dealt with the incident.

Waste was dumped at Lee Drive, Romsey.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Cooper was given an immediate custodial sentence.

Nick Adams-King, deputy leader of Test Valley Borough Council, said: “I’m very pleased Cooper has been given prison time for his selfish offences.

"Fly-tipping is an abhorrent crime but fly-tipping asbestos is particularly horrendous, given that it can be a dangerous substance.

"This road had to be closed for two days to allow specialists to clear this up, and the way in which this was fly-tipped in the first place reflects how little Cooper regards anyone else.

Cooper Mitchell was jailed at Southampton Crown Court.

“My thanks once again go to our officers who investigated this case and everyone who has played a part in ensuring Cooper was sufficiently punished for these crimes.

"I hope this shows anyone else who believes fly-tipping is the easy way out that it can land you in prison. It is not worth it, and we investigate every single incident that is reported to us.”

In January last year Cooper, 36, of Hillyfields, Nursling, was found guilty of five fly-tipping offences at three locations across Test Valley.

Appearing at Southampton Magistrates' Court he was fined £20,000, as well as being ordered to pay costs of £2,882.75 and a victim surcharge of £190.

Cooper was found guilty of fly-tipping at Toothill Road and Spaniards Lane in Romsey, and a scrap metal offence in Botley Road, North Baddesley.

Speaking at the time Test Valley Borough Council leader Phil North said: "When we say fly-tipping is not acceptable and not worth the risk, we absolutely mean it.

"I promised that Test Valley Borough Council investigates every single offence that takes place in our borough and that we will always seek to prosecute if we have enough evidence."