Leeds Flytipper Given Suspended Sentence After Waste Dumping

Local man convicted of multiple flytipping offences in East End Park and Harehills

A Leeds man has received a suspended prison sentence following a series of flytipping offences across the city earlier this year. David Seedo, aged 29, of Clark Lane, Cross Green, was convicted of 13 counts of flytipping and one count of operating without a waste carriers’ licence at Kirklees Magistrates Court.

Details of the offences and investigation

The offences took place between 24 April and 6 May 2025, with waste dumped in locations including East End Park and Harehills. The council’s serious environmental crime team (SECT) was alerted after multiple reports of flytipping at a privately owned site on Ellerby Lane in East End Park. Witnesses described the vehicle involved as a Nissan Micra towing a trailer, mainly dumping household waste.

Further reports of flytipping were made at Bayswater Terrace in Harehills, where CCTV footage captured the same vehicle and trailer. Investigations linked the waste removal activity to a business operated by Seedo, who was found to be carrying out waste removal without the required licence.

On 8 May, officers from SECT and West Yorkshire Police visited Seedo’s property and seized his car as part of the investigation.

Sentence and legal restrictions

• Seedo pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.
• He was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.
• He must pay £2,100 in compensation to the private landowner affected by the flytipping.
• A Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) was issued, lasting until 31 May 2031, prohibiting him from collecting, carrying, transporting, or depositing waste, using any vehicle for waste-related activities, or advertising waste removal services.

Community involvement and safety concerns

Members of the public played a significant role in the prosecution by providing witness statements and video evidence. The council emphasised the importance of reporting flytipping incidents to assist in enforcement efforts.

The waste dumped at Ellerby Lane had caused a fire that required attendance by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, highlighting the potential dangers associated with flytipping.

Council response and advice

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, stated that the case demonstrates the council’s commitment to tackling flytipping regardless of the vehicle used. He thanked the public for their assistance in securing the prosecution and urged residents to be cautious when hiring waste removal services.

He advised that individuals or companies must hold an approved waste carrier licence to operate legally. The Leeds Accredited Waste Carrier Scheme (LAWCS), launched in 2024, helps residents identify legitimate waste removal businesses. Hiring unlicensed operators can result in fines for both the operator and the customer.

For more information about the Leeds Accredited Waste Carrier Scheme, residents can visit the Leeds Directory website: Leeds Accredited Waste Carrier Scheme.