WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has warned businesses about illegal tipping after a former company director was imprisoned.

John Bruce of Ivory Plant Hire Ltd and Ivory Plant and Haulage, breached an undertaking of a court injunction brought by the council.

At Worcester County Court on Monday, October 15, he was sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court.

The council had obtained an emergency court injunction in March last year to prevent any illegal tipping at its premises at Badger's Hill, Bishampton Bank, Sheriff's Lench, near Pershore.

But people living nearby called the council to say that tipping operations were continuing at the site, a designated Special Wildlife Site.

Bruce admitted five charges of breaching the injunction, which meant he was in contempt of court.

Judge Michael Mott, who was sitting at the hearing, said this was one "of the most flagrant and persistent breaches of an undertaking" he had ever seen.

He sentenced Bruce to six months' jail on two of the charges and three months on the other three charges. The sentences are to run concurrently. Costs of £3,000 were awarded to Worcestershire County Council.

"It seems there are contractors who are prepared to deliberately breach planning and other environmental regulations for considerable profit," said a county council spokesman. "The action of the court has demonstrated that such unlawful activities will not be tolerated.

"The county council takes its role in protecting local communities very seriously. This decision should make anyone involved in illegal tipping think very carefully about what they are getting themselves into."