News-Man fined after dumping rubbish behind his own takeaway

Our neighbourhood wardens took legal action against Ben Martin after rubbish, which included two chest freezers and a suitcase, was discovered in a street behind his business, Sopranos Takeaway on Broom Lane in Ushaw Moor.

A warden visited Sopranos Takeaway to ask Martin if he knew about the waste. The owner admitted it was his rubbish and that a date had been set for it to be cleared.

Martin was advised to move the rubbish within the boundary of his premises until it was due to be taken away.

However, more than five weeks later, the warden returned to the premises and found that the waste was still in the street.

Given the amount of time that had passed, the warden had to arrange for our Clean and Green team to remove the rubbish, and Martin was issued with a notice requiring him to attend an interview.

Peterlee Magistrates Court heard that the 54-year-old, of High Street, West Cornforth, failed to attend the interview.

He was found guilty of flytipping and ordered to pay a £2,640 fine, £1,029 costs, and a £1,056 victim surcharge, totalling £4,725.

Impacts of flytipping

Ian Hoult, our neighbourhood protection manager, said: "Regardless of the location, whether behind a shop or in the countryside, flytipping causes serious environmental damage and negatively impacts communities.

"In this case, the takeaway owner failed to take responsibility for his own waste, which not only impacted on the health and wellbeing of residents but resulted in taxpayers' money being used to clear it away, which could have easily been avoided by using the correct disposal services.

"This case shows that we keep an eye out for flytipping, and we will take action where rubbish has been dumped illegally."