A COMPANY has been fined for illegally dumping mud on road which later caused a road traffic collision.

Shortly after 8am on October 16 2013, a motorcyclist lost control of his bike after hitting mud which had been left along the A420 between Old Vicarage Road and Gablecross Police Station, Swindon.

He sustained minor injuries and required hospital treatment.

Police officers deemed the road so dangerous that it was immediately closed and the farmer responsible was located.

Swindon Borough Council and the farmer were then tasked with clearing the road. This led to the road being closed from 8.40am until 11.16am causing substantial traffic disruption.

Joseph Enterprises was later summonsed to court for depositing mud on a highway without lawful authority or excuse in consequence of which a user of the highway was injured or endangered.

Jonathan Joseph, of Lotmead Farm, pleaded not guilty on behalf of Joseph Enterprises but the company was found guilty during a hearing at North West Wiltshire Magistrates Court on Monday 21st July 2014.

The company was fined £500, made to pay a victim surcharge of £50 and £620 in costs.

PC Sarah Cooper said: "This case should act as a stark warning that we are actively prosecuting farmers who leave roads in such a dangerous condition.

"In this case, the motorcyclist only received minor injuries but it could have been much worse.

"Not only did the actions of the farmer cause the road traffic collision, it also caused a main route into Swindon to be closed during rush hour which affected a large amount of people."

In 2010 a farmer from Malmesbury who left mud on a main road before a fatal crash was ordered to pay more than £12,000.