A man was fined £500 with costs of £900 after bricks were dumped in a Wolverhampton street.

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Robert Slater, aged 22, of Regent Street, Bilston, admitted being the driver of a car which a passerby spotted being used to fly tip.

When interviewed, Slater claimed a passenger dumped the bricks, but failed to provide details of the alleged culprit.

He appeared before Wolverhampton Magistrates Court last week (Thursday 6 July) and pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the requirements of an Environment Act notice.

Slater narrowly avoided a driving ban after District Judge Wilkinson heard he had recently started work and losing his licence would mean he would be sacked.

The court heard that between 30 or 40 bricks were seen being dumped in Cable Street, All Saints, on the afternoon of 6 May, 2016.

A member of the public recorded the registration plate of the red Volkswagen car Slater was driving and reported it to the council.

Slater failed to turn up to 2 prearranged interviews with council officers, but eventually attended a third appointment.

Judge Wilkinson said that Slater had "ducked and dived" to avoid being interviewed and had eventually pleaded guilty at court due to the "overwhelming" evidence against him.

Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton's cabinet member for city environment, said: "Fly tipping blights neighbourhoods and I am pleased to see another successful prosecution by City of Wolverhampton Council which sends a clear message to anyone thinking of dumping their rubbish in this selfish and irresponsible way.

"I would like to thank the community minded passerby who reported the offence to the council and enabled us to take action."

Members of the public who witness fly tipping are asked to record details such as date, time, vehicle registration number and any descriptions of the offenders. Incidents should then be reported to the city council's dedicated fly tipping hotline: 01902 555685 or via the council website.

  • released: Monday 10 July, 2017