A 53-year-old Somerset builder who dumped and burned illegal waste in a field has been given a five-year criminal behaviour order and 150 hours community service.

Above: A field in Merriot, near Crewkerne, was used for illegal dumping of waste

Bernard Molloy, aged 53, of Shepton Beauchamp, admitted the offences at Taunton Crown Court in a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency.

The terms of the criminal behaviour order stipulate that Molloy must not collect, carry, transport or deposit any waste in the course of his or any other business. Nor can he use any vehicle to collect, carry, transport or deposit waste as a business. It is believed to be the first such order obtained by the Environment Agency.

Bernard Molloy has also been ordered to carry out 150 hours community service and to pay £2,500 towards the investigation costs.

He was witnessed on at least 20 occasions driving his flat-bed Ford Transit laden with building rubble, old kitchen units and appliances driving down the lane to a field off Wall Ditch Lane in Merriott, and then returning unladen. He was also filmed arriving at the field with waste and leaving unladen, and filmed burning waste.