Woman became abusive with council officer after dumping rubbish in Sunderland street

Janice Haddock, 62, started swearing at an environmental officer when he challenged her over leaving bags of rubbish outside her home.

In total Haddock left three bin bags full of domestic waste in the rear lane of Gordon Terrace, where she lives, in August last year.

Tony Southwick, prosecuting on behalf of Sunderland City Council, told Sunderland Magistrates’ Court that an environmental support officer had spotted a bag of rubbish on August 12 in the lane.

He said: “The bag had split open and the waste was spilling out.”

Mr Southwick said on inspection a letter with Haddock’s details on was found in the bag, which was removed.

However, the following day another environmental support officer found another two black bags full of rubbish in the same place.

Neither of these deposits of waste were placed out on refuse or recycling collection day, which is a Wednesday in the Southwick area.

Mr Southwick said an officer went to see Haddock to talk about the rubbish.

He said: “During the course of the discussion she was asked if she had deposited the single black bag.

“In mitigation she said she keeps her dog in the yard and it would have ripped the bag open, so she had put it outside.”

She also admitted to putting the other two bags out, saying she could not recycle because she only had one bin.

He said: “She became aggressive and refused to sign the record of the interview.”

Mr Southwick said Haddock then demanded the environment officer get out of her house and became abusive.

A fixed penalty notice of £150 was sent to Haddock.

Mr Southwick said the environment officer then got a phone call from Haddock.

He said: “She informed him that she had received the fine and that she would not be paying it.”

He said the defendant became abusive again and swore at the officer.

Magistrates found the case against Haddock proved in her absence and she was fined £150 and ordered to pay £498 costs and a £32 surcharge.