A KIDDERMINSTER man who collected a load of building waste and then dumped it because he needed the money, has been fined by magistrates after admitting fly-tipping.

Joshua Sankey, of Sutton Road, pleaded guilty to the offence at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, November 2.

The 20-year-old had carried out a house clearance in April this year at an address in Worcester and collected 46 bags of building waste.

Instead of disposing the waste legally, he dumped it along a road between Hampton Lovett and Doverdale, near Droitwich.

Sankey was fined £1,000, ordered to pay costs of £535 and a statutory surcharge of £100.

In mitigation, Sankey told the court at the time of the offence his girlfriend was pregnant and he needed the money. He realised what he had done was wrong and apologised for his actions.

Sankey added he was working and fly-tipping was something he would never do again.

Sankey was helped with the house clearance and fly-tip by Rocky Smith, of Teme Crescent, in Droitwich. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing on October 12.

Smith was ordered to pay £300 in compensation and an £85 victim surcharge, as well as eight-week curfew order running between 7pm and 7am.

During his hearing, Smith told the court he was just helping out a friend and had made an error of judgement. Smith, who is a home carer, pledged not to fly-tip again in the future.

Councillor Emma Stokes, executive board member for environment on Wychavon District Council, said: “Fly-tipping is a serious offence which damages our environment and we are pleased with the sentence in this case.

“This also highlights the importance of residents using reputable traders, which are properly licenced waste carriers, who will dispose of their waste legally and safely.”