A ROGUE waste operator who dumped rubbish he had been paid to dispose of in a quiet village near Kidderminster has been hit in the pocket.

David Russell of High Street, Quarry Bank pleaded guilty to four environmental offences at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, June 6.

Russell had been tracked down by Wyre Forest District Council officers after they discovered a fly tip in a small lay-by between Belbroughton Road and Broome Lane, in Blakedown, on September 11 2017.

It consisted of bricks, a wooden pallet, black bin bags, cardboard boxes, plastic boxes, broken down drawers, a coffee table and various other household items.

Enforcement officers from Wyre Forest District Council turned detective and trawled through the rubbish and were able to successfully trace it back to a Dudley resident who procured Russell’s services.

Prosecuting on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council, Nina Dorrell told the court that Russell was paid £25 by the resident to dispose of the rubbish a couple of days before the fly tip was discovered.

However, he did not have valid permission for commercial waste disposal, a fact that had not been queried by the resident at the time.

In addition to the fly tipping offence Russell also pleaded guilty to an additional three offences of failing to comply with the council’s formal requests issued in the investigation under the Environment Act.

Magistrates imposed fines amounting to £160 and ordered Russell to pay £30 victim surcharge and £60 compensation in respect of the clean-up costs.

He was also ordered to pay the Council’s legal costs of £909.88, which were incurred in bringing the prosecution. As a result, Russell was ordered to pay a total of £1,159.88.

Councillor Rebecca Vale, Wyre Forest District Council’s cabinet member for operational services, said: “Fly tipping is a criminal offence.

“It is thoughtless and totally anti-social and goes against everything we are trying to do to keep our district clean, green and looking good.

“We will always take action to trace those responsible and I’m delighted we were able to solve this case and bring a successful prosecution.

“We would urge people to check people’s permits before employing them. If residents don’t do this they are also committing an offence and run the risk of being fined.

“Hopefully this case will also make people think twice before employing people to dispose of their waste without first checking they are licensed and operating legally.”

People can report incidents of fly-tipping and find out more by visiting www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/flytipping.