A builder is more than £1,000 out of pocket after rubbish was found dumped in a country lane.

David Sanderson, of Ashford, Middlesex, was prosecuted by Sevenoaks District Council after plumbing and builders’ waste including a bath, door, rubble, furnishings and paperwork was left in Castle Farm Road in Shoreham, near Sevenoaks, in December 2018.

The council's fly-tipping investigation team traced the waste to a property in Cramptons Road, Sevenoaks, and Sanderson, who was refurbishing a bathroom there.

The 33-year-old claimed he paid a "man in a transit-style tipper van" £180 to take the rubbish. He admitted he did not check the driver was licensed to dispose of waste, nor did he obtain a waste transfer notice.

The council said Sanderson was then asked, on several occasions, to attend interviews with its team to discuss the matter, but he did not attend.

The case was heard at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where Sanderson pleaded guilty to failing to dispose of controlled waste legally and failing to obtain waste transfer documentation.

He was fined £800 and ordered to pay costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £80.

Cllr Margot McArthur, cabinet member for cleaner and greener, said: "Dumping waste in county lanes is terrible for our environment, an inconvenience to drivers and costs taxpayers’ money in removal costs.

"Our residents do not accept the actions of a selfish minority who are prepared to blight our district to save a few pounds.

"We have promised to protect our local environment and, as with all fly-tipping cases, we will take the necessary action to bring offenders to justice when we have the evidence.

"This is a lesson for anyone whether a builder or a home owner. If you don’t make proper checks or obtain a waste transfer note when you pay someone to remove your waste, which ends up fly-tipped, you risk prosecution."

To check whether someone is licensed to carry waste visit the Environment Agency website or call 08708 506506.

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