Portsmouth tyre thief caught in Kwik Fit staff sting after stealing and dumping used tyres

A THIEF who was caught red handed after stealing and dumping hundreds of tyres across Hampshire from a number of garages has avoided jail.
Peter Kennedy's van outside the Lodge Road branch of Kwik Fit in Portswood, SouthamptonPeter Kennedy's van outside the Lodge Road branch of Kwik Fit in Portswood, Southampton
Peter Kennedy's van outside the Lodge Road branch of Kwik Fit in Portswood, Southampton

Peter Kennedy, of Kingston Road, Portsmouth, stole part-worn tyres from garages across the county in the early hours of the morning at almost exactly the same time and also abandoned waste tyres at the businesses.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the Environment Agency began an investigation in July last year. A complaint was received that hundreds of waste tyres were being dumped at night at branches of tyre replacement businesses across Hampshire, in particular at Kwik Fit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

CCTV fitted in several Kwik Fit garages resulted in the same van being involved in each occasion.

On 28 August 2015, a crime officer from the Environment Agency spotted the van at Kwik Fit in Lodge Road, Southampton, and followed behind until police intercepted the vehicle and detained the driver.

Kennedy, 50, was found in possession of six waste tyres that were purposely marked by staff and placed in the store. He had also dumped 30 waste tyres at the garage the same night.

Kennedy pleased guilty to three offences of theft and one of depositing waste tyres in Lodge Road between July 2015 - August 2015.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay £330 in charges.

Since Kennedy was arrested, there were no further complaints.

Nigel Oliver, environment agency crime officer, said: ‘Mr Kennedy dumped and stole tyres without any regard for the businesses he repeatedly targeted across Hampshire.

‘Across the country we are cracking down on waste criminals. Waste crime puts communities at risk, damages the environment, and threatens legitimate business. We are constantly gathering information on criminal activities and environmental crime in Hampshire and across the south east.

‘In cases like this where individuals consistently act illegally, we have absolutely no hesitation in prosecuting them.’