A FORMER Batchley resident was hauled before the courts and ordered to pay a hefty fine after being found guilty of fly-tipping.

Robert Wyatt, formerly of Morton House, Poplar Road, pleaded guilty at a recent Redditch Magistrates Court hearing to dumping a black bin bag containing household waste in Lock Close, Batchley.

The court heard how Redditch Council's environmental health enforcement officer had found the bag and, after enquiries were made, Wyatt was interviewed and reported for the offence, resulting in his prosecution.

The 24-year-old was fined £50 and ordered to pay £150 within the next 28 days.

A council spokesman said: "All offences of fly-tipping are serious and we are committed to investigating and prosecuting when appropriate. This offence was detected through council officers working proactively within the community.

"Although we are able to identify some cases of fly-tipping, we do appreciate information from the public which helps us detect offences at an even earlier stage."

Fly-tipping includes unauthorised dumping of household goods, carpets, boxes, bin bags and their contents, soil and other building materials.

Anybody wishing to report incidents of fly-tipping can call the council on 64252.