SA asbestos removalist Gavin Piller given suspended sentence for assaulting EPA officer, company fined $49k for safety breaches
Caught for the second time with tonnes of illegally stored asbestos, this waste removalist went berserk and attacked environmental officers. A judge slammed his history of “contempt and arrogance” for the law.
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A waste removalist has narrowly avoided prison for “losing the plot” and violently assaulting EPA officers who caught him illegally stockpiling 10 tonnes of asbestos.
On Tuesday, the District Court heard Gavin Piller snatched audio and video recorders from the hands of officers, then pushed one to the ground and punched him in the head.
After being pulled off his victim, Piller grabbed a large piece of wood and advanced on the officer again – only to be tackled from behind, and disarmed, by the man’s colleague.
Judge Paul Muscat said there was no excuse nor justifiable explanation for Piller’s “appalling behaviour”, which warranted a suspended jail sentence rather than a fine.
“This can only be described as Piller having lost the plot … his behaviour was unprovoked, totally out of order and inexcusable in every respect,” he said.
“And this was not the first time he has been unable to control his behaviour.”
Piller, 59, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of hindering and assaulting EPA officers, as well as using abusive language.
His company, GP and Sons, pleaded guilty to having illegally stockpiled 7.02 tonnes of asbestos in January 2018, and a further 10 tonnes in March 2018.
In sentencing, Judge Muscat outlined a two-year history of disputes between the environmental watchdog and the company over its handling of asbestos.
He said GP and Sons had been repeatedly warned it was licenced only to transport, not store, the asbestos it removed from construction sites.
Despite those warnings, it was repeatedly caught with asbestos – sometimes improperly wrapped and exposed to the elements – in its vehicles and depot bins.
“This clear defiance of the law demonstrates a concerning attitude of disrespect for, or flouting of, the company’s responsibilities,” Judge Muscat said.
“That a second offence occurred so shortly after the first reveals the contempt and arrogance with which the company viewed its responsibilities.”
He said Piller had written a letter of apology and provided numerous references insisting he was “a good man”.
That was, he said, at odds with a 2009 incident in which Piller assaulted a financier over a car loan dispute and a “history” of “appalling” language toward other EPA officers.
Judge Muscat fined GP and Sons $49,000 and Piller $2100, further jailing him for four months and one week.
He suspended that prison term on condition of a 12-month, $500 good behaviour bond.