A former police officer says a 'genuine mistake' landed him in court, where he was sentenced for fly-tipping rubbish.

Paul Earwaker was prosecuted last week for dumping furniture on someone's private driveway, off London Road, Maidstone, while they were at home.

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CCTV footage showed the ex-sergeant, of Milford Close, leave chairs, an outdoor glass table and sofa cushions at the property in broad daylight.

The 46-year-old claims he had spoken to a rag and bone man, who regularly drives near his home to collect scrap metal, had told him to leave the waste at that location and they would pick it up at a later date.

Mr Earwaker, who owns cab service Kent Prestige Cars, said: "He comes once a week. He said he would collect it from the house where I took it to.

"It didn't even look like a house - there was no front door, it looked like a refuse pick up point but no one believes that.

"This is going to ruin my life. This is a genuine and honest mistake. The court don't believe me but I'm not stupid enough to do that.

"I wouldn't want that to happen to me so I wouldn't be doing that to someone else."

The owner of the house contacted Maidstone Borough Council's (MBC) waste crime team, which seized Mr Earwaker's van and interviewed him about the rubbish.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to illegally depositing household waste, during a case at Medway Magistrates Court and was handed a 12-month community order.

He has also been instructed to complete mandatory rehabilitation activities and pay a fine of £1,310.

In 2012 Mr Earwaker was jailed for six months for perverting the course of justice when he asked his community police officer partner to take his speeding points.

During the trial, it emerged he was fined and dismissed from the force in 2009, when he tried to sell football tickets to an undercover officer at Arsenal's ground.

Mr Earwaker declined to comment on his time as a police officer.

Jamie Duffy, MBC's waste crime manager, said: "Maidstone will not stand for any act of fly-tipping within the borough.

"We take the approach to seize fly-tippers vehicles and can sell or destroy the vehicle where possible."

He added: "Your waste is your responsibility and you need to ensure you dispose of it correctly."

The local authority is encouraging people who have witnessed fly-tipping to report it here.

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