A North London resident has been ordered to pay more than £9,000 and has a criminal record - after his waste was found illegally dumped in South Cambridgeshire.
The man was taken to court following an investigation into a report of fly tipping just off the Caxton Bypass – more than 50 miles from where he lives.
Environmental Crime Officers from South Cambridgeshire District Council attended the location photographing the dumped items and seizing evidence. Officers then traced the suspect to North London, where they contacted him in relation to how it came to be there.
Among the dumped rubbish was household waste, a Christmas tree, cardboard waste, broken furniture, children's toys, and black waste bags.
The suspect denied any wrongdoing and could not give a valid reason why his waste was fly tipped an hour and a half’s drive away in Caxton.
The 56-year-old man failed to attend the court hearing at Willesden Magistrates’ Court in London, and the case was heard in his absence. He was found guilty and given a £5,000 fine, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and full costs of £2,005. This totals £9,005.
Cllr Natalie Warren Green, Lead Cabinet Member for Environment for South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We believe this is the first time one of our fly tipping cases has been heard in a London court and it is a large sum of money he has been ordered to pay - over £9,000 - which sends a very clear message that fly tipping is not tolerated. Fly-tipping isn’t just an eyesore, it’s illegal, harmful to our environment, and unfair to our communities. Everyone has a legal duty to dispose of waste responsibly. Whether it’s garden clippings, old furniture, or DIY rubble, we urge residents to make sure it’s handled the right way by licensed professionals. Together, we can protect our green spaces and keep our district clean.”
Cllr Peter Sandford, a district councillor for Caxton and Papworth, said: “I’m appalled that someone would drive all the way from London to dump their rubbish in beautiful South Cambridgeshire. I commend the environmental health team for their excellent detective work in tracking down this offender. I encourage all residents of South Cambridgeshire to report any fly tipping on the Council’s website.”
The District Council is advising residents to:
- Only use authorised waste collectors - always check they’re registered with the Environment Agency.
- Get paperwork - make sure there’s a written record of what the waste is and where it’s going.
- Keep your waste secure - don’t leave it where it could be tampered with or fly-tipped.
Failing to follow these rules can lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice of £600 or more or a court issued fine of up to £5,000.
- You can report fly tipping here
- Book a District Council bulky waste, white goods or hazardous electrical goods collection here