A MAN has been fined £4,000 for fly tipping in Kidderminster.

Mark Robson, of Queen Elizabeth Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of depositing controlled waste in Cherry Orchard without an environmental permit in September 2014.

Nina Dorrell, prosecuting for Wyre Forest District Council, told magistrates how the 28-year-old was driving through Cherry Orchard carrying two white fridges at the back of his vehicle when he stopped at the back gates of Lea Street School, got out of his car and dragged one of the fridges onto the pavement.

He then started hitting the fridge with a sledgehammer removing and retaining the fridge motor. Once finished, he repeated the same with the second fridge.

Robson then drove off leaving the fridges’ carcasses strewn across the pavement in the residential area. The fridges had to be removed from the pavement by the council.

The court took a very dim view of Mr Robson’s actions and highlighted how dangerous fridges fly-tipped in residential areas and in the vicinity of a school can be.

In addition to the £4,000 fine, Robson was also ordered to pay £400 victim surcharge, costs of £620.41, and compensation for clean-up costs of £38.16 when he appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Friday, April 10.

Linda Collis, director for community well-being and environment at Wyre Forest District Council, said: "Officers worked diligently to pursue this case and we are very pleased that the courts took this matter very seriously, reflected in the sentence. This all contributes to our purpose of keeping the district safe, clean and looking good."

Wyre Forest District Council has a dedicated phone line for reporting fly tipping 01562 732528. Emails can also be sent from the automatic link in the fly tipping section of the council’s website at wyreforestdc.gov.uk.