A Preston man who ran a secret waste disposal operation from his flat in Havelock Court, Plungington, has been jailed for 14 weeks.

Another man who used his services to dispose of asbestos and cut costs was fined £800.

Preston Magistrates’ Court heard Paul Williams, 53, of Ashbourne Crescent, Ingol, was living in the Plungington flat when he ran the clandestine waste disposal operation between June 11 and July 9 2018.

Roofer James Young, 48, of Railway Road, Darwen, used Williams’ service to get rid of asbestos he had removed through his business J L Roofing.

On June 11, June 14 and June 28, Williams fly-tipped the asbestos. He did not have a permit or comply with the strict regulations surrounding the disposal of the harmful material.

Read more: How fly-tipping is blighting the railway line in Deepdale

Williams appeared at Preston Magistrates Court on Thursday April 18 and pleaded guilty to three offences under the Environmental Protection Act and an Environmental Permit offence.

He was sentenced to 14 weeks behind bars for each offence and ordered to pay a £150 victim surcharge.

Young pleaded guilty to a single fly-tipping offence and was fined £800 with £1,000 compensation, £717 costs and an £80 surcharge when he appeared on March 20.

Neil Fairhurst, Director of Customer Services and Interim Deputy Chief Executive for Preston City Council, said: “Of particular concern is the total disregard to health displayed by Mr Williams and Mr Young.

“The way in which they handled the asbestos roofing waste created a serious risk to the health to anyone in close proximity.

“These were deliberate offences committed for financial gain. It is apparent that Mr Young used the illegal services offered by Williams purely to avoid the high costs which he would have encountered by using an authorised hazardous waste disposal service.”