Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Rubbish dump offender sentenced

Updated at 7:01 am on 30 January 2013

A Hawera man who refused to clean up an illegal rubbish dump on his land has been sentenced to community detention.

Alan Mouland was found guilty last October of breaking a court order to clean up the property where he and contractors illegally dumped rubbish over two years from 2007.

Judge Brian Dwyer sentenced him to six months community detention and 250 hours community service, at New Plymouth District Court on Tuesday.

The judge said Mouland was very lucky to escape a jail sentence after blatantly defying repeated court orders and then refused to pay a $45,000 fine.

The sentencing was deferred four times so Mouland could complete work to remove the rubbish that included batteries, oil, paint, asbestos, wood and electrical goods.

However he did not do so, and Taranaki Regional Council cleaned up his property at the end of last year, when the fine was eventually paid.

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