A pick-up truck used by a prolific flytipper to dump rubbish has been crushed after a successful prosecution by Watford Borough Council.

Lee Taylor, from Bushey, operated by cold-calling residents and offering to remove household items and garden waste, often charging up to £150 in cash for the service.

He then took what he collected away in his truck and dumped it at various sites, including private residences, garage blocks and industrial land close to Farm Terrace.

Taylor pleaded guilty to nine flytipping offences dating back to April 2013 and had two other Watford flytipping offences taken into account during sentencing at St Albans Crown Court. He was given 13 months imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

In addition his truck was destroyed.

Environmental Crime Officer for Watford Borough Council Phil White said: “The vehicle in question was seized at the scene of a flytip.

“If we were to sell it, it would cost a lot of money to make it road-worthy again.

“We believe it’s easier to crush the vehicle and take it out of its criminal use. This sends out a powerful message to flytippers that our tough approach means that damaging our borough is not a profitable enterprise.”