A man who was caught by police collecting scrap from Penrith businesses without a licence has been fined.
Darren Barratt, of Halton Road, Lancaster, was stopped by officers in the town in January. He admitted to picking up scrap from businesses in the town, without having a licence.
He was prosecuted by Westmorland and Furness Council. Barratt pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay £1,286 in total by Carlisle magistrates on July 18.
Barratt travelled to the area from Lancaster with an associate and claimed that he didn’t know that he needed a licence to collect scrap.
The council said businesses and residents should be aware that they also have a duty of care to check that the person taking their scrap away has a valid licence for the area where they are collecting.
Councillor Dyan Jones, cabinet member for customer and waste services at Westmorland and Furness Council, said, “The council team is highly satisfied with the result of this case and hope that it acts as a deterrent to those who may be considering travelling into this area to collect scrap without a licence.
“Unlicensed collectors are often linked to rural crimes such as burglaries and quad bike theft. They undercut and take away business from genuine, legitimate, licensed dealers.
“Residents and businesses are reminded to permit their waste to be removed only by individuals or companies with the correct licences and permits. This will help to deter crime and maintain public safety in our communities.”
