Moment ‘hero’ passerby confronts ‘fly-tippers’ dumping unwanted sofa at national park beauty spot

By JADA BAS

Published: | Updated:

This is the shocking moment a passerby confronts two suspected fly-tippers he believes were dumping a sofa at a national park beauty spot.

Niall Howard, 32, has been hailed a hero for ordering the couple, who he spotted taking the furniture from a large white Mercedes van, to take it back away with them.

He was driving through the Peak District National Park on Monday to visit family in Meltham, West Yorkshire, when he spotted the couple who appeared to be dumping the sofa.

The outraged conservation worker blocked the pair into a lay-by with his pick-up truck and challenged them, shouting ‘what are you doing?’ as he filmed.

Mr Howard said: ‘It’s a beautiful part of the world up in the countryside, I think there’s enough parts of this country that look a disgrace, and the countryside is something that, especially in West Yorkshire, is a part of the area we can be proud of.

‘To see it being treated like a skip, it’s annoying – I’m a great believer in if you find somewhere you leave it as good as you find it or better, you don’t turn it in to a dustbin.’

He added the couple tried to protest that they were just selling the sofa on the lay-by, which is located near Wessenden Head Reservoir, but believes this is a lie.

He said: ‘I knew they were lying, nobody goes into the middle of the moors to sell a sofa – who does that?

Niall Howard, 32, has been hailed a hero for ordering the couple he spotted disposing of the furniture from a large white Mercedes van to take it back away with them

The outraged conservation worker blocked the pair in to a lay-by with his pick-up truck and challenged them, shouting ‘what are you doing?’ as he filmed

He added the couple tried to protest that they were just selling the sofa on the lay-by, which is located near Wessenden Head Reservoir, but believes this is a lie

‘I’d witnessed him launching it, so his cock and bull story – I knew he were trying to think of something on the spot.

‘If that sofa was for sale, the way he threw it out the back of his van it wasn’t going to be in very good condition for anybody buying it.’

On social media, the 32-year-old was praised for stepping in.

One commenter said: ‘Finally, someone who stops to confront them. Well done Niall.’

Another added: ‘Absolute hero, I hate fly tippers so much.’

Mr Howard said: ‘I think my problem is that I’m old school.

‘No offence to the new generations coming through, but back in the day if you did something and it wasn’t right every body used to call you out on it.

‘Today, people are more afraid of getting in trouble for trying to do the right thing.’

He has since reported the incident to the police.

West Yorkshire Police has been contacted for comment

Read More

  • Related Posts

    Moment British tourist and her friends shelter from Bondi Beach massacre as she reveals how she escaped terror attack

    This is the moment a British holidaymaker and her friends took shelter as two terrorists opened fire on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people celebrating a Jewish holiday.  Footage shared by Grace…

    Terrifying moment private jet plummets to the ground in Mexico, killing all ten on board including three young children

    This is the terrifying moment a private jet plummeted to the ground in Mexico, killing all ten on board, including three young children.  The children, believed to be members of…

    You Missed

    Arrival of 600 new migrants on flotilla of mega-dinghies and inflatables shatters Labour’s claim to be getting a grip on the small boats crisis

    • By poster
    • February 18, 2026
    • 1 views
    Arrival of 600 new migrants on flotilla of mega-dinghies and inflatables shatters Labour’s claim to be getting a grip on the small boats crisis

    Two killed and multiple injured in mass shooting at Brown University as Ivy League campus is plunged into lockdown and students are warned to ‘RUN’ or ‘FIGHT’ while police hunt gunman

    • By poster
    • February 18, 2026
    • 1 views
    Two killed and multiple injured in mass shooting at Brown University as Ivy League campus is plunged into lockdown and students are warned to ‘RUN’ or ‘FIGHT’ while police hunt gunman

    Mass shooting sparks chaos at Brown University campus as mom reveals terrified text from son as students are urged to stay inside

    • By poster
    • February 18, 2026
    • 1 views
    Mass shooting sparks chaos at Brown University campus as mom reveals terrified text from son as students are urged to stay inside

    Parents’ fury after booking trips to Santa’s home in Lapland with travel giant TUI… only to find they’re in a Finnish town 300 miles away

    • By poster
    • February 18, 2026
    • 1 views
    Parents’ fury after booking trips to Santa’s home in Lapland with travel giant TUI… only to find they’re in a Finnish town 300 miles away

    Trump offers prayers for victims after Brown University shooting as campus remains locked down

    • By poster
    • February 18, 2026
    • 1 views
    Trump offers prayers for victims after Brown University shooting as campus remains locked down

    Andrew STILL can’t escape the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein: New photos from paedophile’s records also feature two US presidents and Woody Allen

    • By poster
    • February 18, 2026
    • 1 views
    Andrew STILL can’t escape the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein: New photos from paedophile’s records also feature two US presidents and Woody Allen