Worst fly-tippers in London walk free

Barry Running and Derek Kilty ran a lucrative business picking up waste from builders and shopkeepers - then disposing of it illegally.

The pair, both 41 and from Battersea, even blocked streets after dumping rubbish in the middle of them.

They defrauded Wandsworth council by claiming 105 tonnes of waste, left at two refuse sites on 87 occasions, was household rather than commercial - enabling them to avoid £6,000 in charges.

They were traced by Wandsworth officials and Battersea police. At South Western magistrates' court in Clapham they admitted illegal fly-tipping and deception between September 2005 and July this year.

Both were given 200 hours' community service. Running was ordered to pay £250 compensation to Western Riverside waste authority, and Kilty £200.

Malcolm Grimston, Wandsworth's environment spokesman, said the judgment was "extremely disappointing" and called for tougher sentences, including "a realistic prospect of being sent to prison".

He said: "Councils are fighting a daily battle with fly-tippers. If ministers don't give clearer guidance to judges and magistrates about the seriousness with which they should treat these offences, we will be left to fight this battle with one hand tied behind our back."

Environment Department figures show 588,432 incidents of fly-tipping in London between April last year and March, a 22 per cent increase on the year before and costing £19.5 million to deal with. London Councils, which represents local authorities, backed calls to bring in harsher penalties.

Daniel Moylan, chairman of the organisation's transport and environment committee, said: "If the Government wants us to properly address the problem it should provide more financial support and ensure magistrates are directed to give robust punishments."