Flytipper who dumped 51 TONS of tyres near Glasgow Airport that was later set ablaze and caused flight chaos is jailed for 11 months
- Declan Clarke, 30, dumped 51 tons of car tyres which someone else set on fire
- The wheels of justice turned and he was jailed today for the illegal breach
- Flytipper Clarke was arrested hiding under a bed at his home in Drumchapel
A flytipper who dumped 51 tons of tyres which were set alight by someone else then caused flights to be disrupted has been jailed.
Declan Clarke, 30, was charging garage owners a pound to get rid of old tyres – but his illegal enterprise cost the taxpayer £130,000 for debris to be cleared up.
Hundreds of tyres were dumped on wasteland in Drumchapel, Glasgow, while others were torched in Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire between June and November 2020.
Clarke was illegally taking tyres from garage owners and charging either £1 or £2 to get rid of them.
In a message dated November 18 2020 he told a client ‘it’s getting a bit hot to get rid of them.’
Two days later was arrested after hiding under a bed at his home in Drumchapel when cops raided his flat.
Declan Clarke, 30, dumped 500 car tyres which someone else set on fire causing chaos
In October 2020 around 500 tyres were dumped at Gartloch Farm, near Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire, and more were stashed there in November
Declan Clarke, 30, was charging garage owners s a quid to get rid of old tyres in Scotland
Clarke was illegally taking tyres from garage owners and charging £1 or £2 to get rid of them
Clarke was jailed today for 11 months after pleading guilty to an environmental breach, at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Toxic plumes of smoke from around 51 tons of tyres which were set alight in Drumchapel caused flights from Glasgow Airport to be cancelled on July 24 2020, along with 17 tonnes of household waste which was set alight.
The court heard that between June and August 2020 a large number of tyres were fly-tipped on wasteland near Aldi in Drumchapel.
In October 2020 around 500 tyres were dumped at Gartloch Farm, near Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire, and more were stashed there in November.
Wildlife camera have been installed on the land due to persistent flytipping, and captured Clarke using a number of different hire vans dumping tyres there.
When police raided the home on November 20, 2020 they found a key for another hire van which was parked outside his flat and was found to be full of tyres.
Wildlife camera have been installed on the land due to persistent flytipping, and captured Clarke using a number of different hire vans dumping tyres there
The court was advised that on the evening of July 24 2020 much of the waste at Dalsetter Crescent, Drumchapel, was consumed by fire with smoke disrupting flights at Glasgow Airport.
Glasgow City Council cleansing staff believed the volume of waste was significantly reduced by the fire and cost was £7,245.16 to clear up.
The estimated cost of cleaning up Gartloch Farm is £120,000 and a further £2,800 to dispose of the remaining tyres.
Fiona Caldwell, Procurator Fiscal, Wildlife and Environment, said: ‘Fly tipping causes the public real and legitimate concern.
‘It is criminal behaviour which creates an eyesore and is costly to clear up and one that the local council must often carry.
‘Declan Clarke’s deliberate and criminal action showed a lack of consideration for the environment and undermines legitimate waste management companies.
‘There is no excuse for illegal dumping of waste and those who choose to engage in it will be brought to account for their actions.’
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