A man has been given a suspended prison sentence and placed under a three-month curfew for a string of fly-tipping offences.

An investigation led by Epping Forest District Council’s environment team found Behnam Dehghani had committed numerous fly-tipping offences.

Dehghani, now an Ilford resident, pleaded guilty to seven offences at a court hearing in February but due to Covid restrictions the sentencing hearing was not held until this month.

The magistrates' court sentenced Dehghani to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

He was served a three-month curfew between 7pm and 7am and banned from driving for a year.

The magistrate also imposed a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and ordered him to pay the council’s prosecution costs of £2,600 and a victim surcharge of £100

The CBO prevents Dehghani from running or being involved in any waste disposal business, or advertising such services.

Cllr Holly Whitbread, cabinet member for housing and community services, said: "This council is committed to taking action against fly-tipping. Anyone found fly-tipping, or not complying with their household duty of care, may be offered a £400 fixed penalty. But in this case, due to the prolific nature of Deghani’s actions, the matter was prosecuted through the courts.

"Fly-tipping is a blight on the Epping Forest district, and costs landowners across the East of England on average £1,000 for each incident. It costs Essex Council Tax payers over £1 million a year to clear fly-tipping from the highway and other council owned land."

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