Van driver dumping rubbish was stopped by Peterlee patrol

The warden from Durham County Council was on patrol in Andrew’s Lane, Littlethorpe, in Peterlee, which is regularly used for flytipping, on July 21.

Along with police officers, the warden approached the van, which was loaded with a burnt mattress, a wooden bedstead and other household rubbish, Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard.

They spoke to the driver, Chris Dobson, who admitted he had intended to dump the waste in the lane and that he was getting rid of it for a friend for £20, although he could not remember his friend’s name or address.

Checks with the Environment Agency confirmed he was not registered to carry controlled waste.

Dobson, 27, of Chester Place, Peterlee, did not attend court but pleaded guilty by post to transporting controlled waste without being registered.

In mitigation, Dobson wrote to the court to say that he is a tyre fitter and full-time single father.

He added that he was going to flytip the items on his van but he did not.

He was fined £190, ordered to pay £130 costs, a £28 victim surcharge and £150 court charge. Afterwards, Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Anyone transporting waste must be registered to do so.

“It is also important for people to be sure that their rubbish is being disposed of legally when employing someone else to take it away.”