Penalties for Flytipper Top £2,000

A South Tyneside man who refused to pay a fine for fly tipping and then repeatedly failed to turn up at court has now been ordered to pay more than £2,000 in penalties.

Michael Callaghan, of Devonshire Street, South Shields, was originally issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice for dumping a UPVC door - complete with his own door number - in a back lane to the rear of his home.

He was identified after environmental enforcement officers from South Tyneside Council put up 'wanted' posters in the local area appealing for evidence, and were subsequently provided with CCTV footage of Callaghan dumping the waste.

He refused to pay the fine and left the council no option but to prosecute through the courts.

Callaghan pleaded not guilty to fly tipping and a trial date was set, however, he failed to attend hearings.

At South Tyneside Magistrates Court this week, in his absence, the case of fly-tipping was proved plus two bail offences.

He was fined £770 fine for the s33 Environment Act offence and the Bail Act matters together. He was given a victim surcharge of £77 and ordered to pay costs to the council of £1,250.00. He was 28 days to pay the total of £2,097.

A spokesperson for South Tyneside Council said: "Callaghan has wasted court time and taxpayers' money by repeatedly failing to take responsibility for his actions.

"The court has imposed some heavy penalties in recognition of this, and I hope it sends out a stark message to anyone else who thinks they can evade justice in this way.

"As this case has proved, we will always investigate environmental crimes, and where we can identify offenders, will take all action available to us.

"Members of the public can help by being our eyes and ears and reporting any incidents to the council so we can investigate."

The Council spends more than £2m a year keeping the Borough clean and tidy and the illegal disposal of waste places an additional burden on taxpayers.

To report fly-tipping contact South Tyneside Council's Customer Contact Centre on (0191) 427 7000. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence. Alternatively Report It online via the Council's website at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/reportit

Further information about the safe and responsible disposal of waste can also be found at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling