Redbridge (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Martin Stokes, 34, has been fined over £2,000 after being found guilty of fly-tipping twice in Redbridge, highlighting the borough’s crackdown on illegal dumping.
After an investigation by Redbridge Council’s Enforcement Team, Stokes was found to be the perpetrator of the alleged offenses. Stokes was residing in Moorfield, Harlow, Essex, at the time of the offences. When quick-thinking residents reported seeing fly-tipping occurring in Chadwell Heath, enforcement officers were notified of the discarded trash.
The garages between Sommerville Road and Brian Road were the scene of the first fly-tip, while Fields Park Crescent was the site of the second.
Enforcement officers found evidence during their investigation, including CCTV footage that connected Stokes to both incidents. Stokes is initially seen in the CCCTV footage unloading big heaps of trash and vegetation from the rear of a yellow Ford Transit vehicle.
Two days later, the CCTV footage shows Stokes using the same van to dump a double bed mattress and a huge refrigerator/freezer onto the road.
Redbridge Council sent Stokes two fixed penalty warnings for fly-tipping, totaling £2000. However, the paperwork was later returned in the mail with the note “not here.” Stokes was called to appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court after the Enforcement Team’s additional research resulted in a court prosecution case against him. But when he didn’t show up that day, an arrest warrant was issued for him.
After being apprehended in the West Midlands, Stokes, who had relocated to Lismore Drive in Birmingham, appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court by video connection on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, with his attorney present, and entered a guilty plea to the two fly-tipping counts. He was fined and told to pay £2,260 in court and council fees.
Redbridge Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, Cllr Khayer Chowdhury, said:
“We have zero tolerance for those who treat our borough disrespectfully and will not tolerate people fly-tipping in Redbridge. This prosecution is testament to our commitment to holding law breakers to account for their behaviour, and the lengths our teams will go to to find those responsible – even when the offender changes address.”
What measures are in place to prevent fly-tipping on private land in Redbridge?
Redbridge Council uses CCTV to catch fly-tippers dumping rubbish on private or public land. Those caught can face unlimited fines and criminal records. The council has increased on-the-spot fines up to £1,000 to deter offenders.
Businesses or individuals using illegal waste removal services without a valid Waste Carriers Licence can also be fined. Failure by property owners to ensure their waste is handled by licensed carriers can result in fines up to £600 if their waste is found dumped illegally. The council prosecutes offenders vigorously to hold them accountable.
Joint operations with the Metropolitan Police target commercial vehicles transporting waste to identify rogue operators without proper licences.