A driver has been jailed after fly-tipped waste he dumped on a road caused a serious crash that left a cyclist with life-threatening head injuries in Brentwood, Essex.
Craig Frewin dumped a large pile of rubbish, including hazardous materials, on a country road before driving away, a court heard.
Shortly after, a cyclist in his 60s collided with the waste, was thrown from his bike, and suffered a severe head injury. He was airlifted to hospital in critical condition.
Medical reports showed the victim sustained catastrophic trauma, including a skull injury that required part of his skull to be surgically removed. He remains under long-term treatment.
Southend Crown Court heard that Frewin was later traced through CCTV and dashcam footage after police reconstructed his route from Upminster to Brentwood. Investigators also linked the dumped waste to a hired tipper lorry he had used.
Officers found that the rubbish contained dangerous items, including asbestos and a protruding nail, which punctured the cyclist’s tyre and contributed to the crash.
The clearance of the hazardous waste cost the local council £1,660.
Frewin pleaded guilty to causing danger to road users and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Police said the cyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Alan Marks described fly-tipping as a serious public safety risk, warning that illegally dumped waste can contain hidden hazards capable of causing severe or fatal injuries.
He added that the victim’s life has been permanently affected by what he described as a preventable incident caused by irresponsible waste disposal.
