Hidden CCTV cameras capture flytipper in the act

Hidden CCTV cameras caught a flytipper in the act landing him with a £733 bill.
Sofa which landed a man with a 733 bill after he pleaded guilty to flytipping.Sofa which landed a man with a 733 bill after he pleaded guilty to flytipping.
Sofa which landed a man with a 733 bill after he pleaded guilty to flytipping.

Stephen Landers was captured on camera as he dumped a sofa and cushions at Warren House Gill in Horden.

Footage, showed a woman, later identified as his ex-girlfriend Stacey McPhillips, keeping watch as he dragged the items from the back of a car.

Sofa which has landed a man with a 733 bill after he pleaded guilty to flytipping.Sofa which has landed a man with a 733 bill after he pleaded guilty to flytipping.
Sofa which has landed a man with a 733 bill after he pleaded guilty to flytipping.
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A clip of the flytipping was shown to police who identified the man as Landers, who admitted the offence in an interview.

At an earlier hearing at Peterlee Magistrates Court, McPhillips, 24, of Eden Hill Road, Peterlee, was handed a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £403 costs and a £15 victim surcharge after she admitted her part in the offence.

A bench warrant was issued for Landers’ arrest after he failed to attend two previous hearings.

Yesterday, Landers, 20, of Basingstoke Road, Peterlee was fined £300 and ordered to pay £403 costs and a £30 victim surcharge by magistrates after pleading guilty to flytipping.

Sofa which has landed a man with a 733 bill after he pleaded guilty to flytipping.Sofa which has landed a man with a 733 bill after he pleaded guilty to flytipping.
Sofa which has landed a man with a 733 bill after he pleaded guilty to flytipping.
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He apologised for not attending court previously and added that he made full admissions regarding the offence at the earliest opportunity.

He admitted that they had been ‘stupid actions’ and that he was getting rid of McPhillips’ grandfather’s sofa, which he had taken to a refuse site only to find it was closed.

The court was also told that the photos of the flytip were an accurate reflection except for some wood and a taxi sign which must have been added later that day as Landers had not left them there.

Ian Hoult, neighbourhood protection manager, Durham County Council, said: “This is another example of how our multi-agency campaign to crackdown on flytipping, Operation Stop It, is making a real difference in the ongoing fight against waste crime.

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“Flytipping bulky items such as a sofa has a serious impact on the environment and damages wildlife and their habitats.

“We will continue to listen to residents, who regularly tell us their concerns about flytipping, and take action against those who break the law.”

Household waste can be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) – visit www.durham.gov.uk/HWRC - and to arrange a bulky waste collection call

03000 261 000.

Environmental crimes, including flytipping, dog fouling and litter, can be reported at www.durham.gov.uk or by calling 03000 261 000.