Fly-tippers caught by CCTV

Jordan Proctor (32) and Ashleigh Reed (37) of Somerset Street, Silksworth, and formerly of Carley Road, Southwick, dumped waste across both sides of the back lane between Carley Road and Edward Burdis Street, Southwick, on Saturday 31 August 2024.

Their fly-tipping was recorded on City Council CCTV cameras as part of a separate investigation into environmental crime. The fly-tipped waste came from a property in Carley Road and included white goods, furniture, household waste, bin bags, wood and even a 'road works' street sign. A video can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AD6HCWtRJ/

The SARA (Southwick Altogether Raising Aspirations) team, who are based in Austin House, Shakespeare Street, began investigating the fly-tipping but both Proctor and Reed failed to engage and assist with enquiries as they ignored interview appointments.

Set up in 2020, SARA is a multi-agency partnership and includes the City Council, Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service, plus housing, education, health, and social care agencies. Its targeted work has already seen drops in anti-social behaviour and it continues to promote and help community projects in and across Southwick.

After a failure to attend interviews, the SARA team began a fly-tipping prosecution of both Proctor and Reed. Earlier this month on Thursday 2 December, Proctor and Reed failed to attend court and warrants were issued for their arrests.

At South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Friday 12 December Proctor admitted fly-tipping. He was fined £200, ordered to pay costs of £275.72 and £207.60p compensation, plus a victim surcharge of £80, a total court bill of £763.32p.

Reed was at magistrates' court on Wednesday 17 December and also admitted fly-tipping. She was fined £200, ordered to pay costs of £465.72 and £220.61p compensation, plus a victim surcharge of £80, a total court bill of £966.33p.

As part of the investigation, another resident, William Johnson (60), of Carley Road, Southwick, failed to attend South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 24 June 2025. He had been charged with failing to provide assistance to officers investigating the fly-tipping, after failing to comply with an enforcement notice.

Mr Johnson was found guilty in his absence and fined £120 by the court, and ordered to pay costs of £150 plus a victim surcharge of £48; a total penalty of nearly £320.

The City Council's Cabinet member for Environment, Councillor Lindsey Leonard said: "Fly-tipping and littering like this is completely unacceptable. We always investigate the reports we receive and anyone who sees fly-tipping or has further information on fly-tipping incidents is urged to contact the City Council and report what they know."

Residents can report fly-tipping at: Fly tipping - Sunderland City Council