Fly-tipper fined for illegal waste dump

A fly-tipper who used a back lane near their home as a dumping ground has been given a £350 fine.

Sunderland City Council served the Fixed Penalty Notice on the householder in Ravensworth Street, Millfield, after admitting under caution they had left what the authority called a “substantial quantity of household waste” in the lane behind their home.

The council has said if the fine is not paid, the householder will be prosecuted for the original offence of Unlawfully Depositing Waste.

Maximum penalties for the offence, if convicted in a magistrates’ court, are 12 months in prison and/or £50,000 fine.

If convicted in a crown court, the maximum penalties are five years in custody and/or an unlimited fine.

The council’ s bulky waste collection scheme, which can remove up to six items, costs £10.

The Echo runs the Clean Streets campaign, which calls on Sunderland communities to make it a cleaner and greener place to live.

The council also launched its own appeal earlier this summer, calling on people to bin their litter and to deter fly-tippers.

Straight talking posters bearing the forthright messages 'Don't Be A Stupid Tosser', 'Don't Let Your C**p Be Fly-Tipped' and 'Sort Your S**t Out' now appear on digital ad display boards across the city and social media.

These are backed up by a zero-tolerance approach, with more enforcement activity and fines for those caught fly-tipping, littering or letting their dogs foul on the streets and play areas.