 Mr Murphy said he was dumping his grandmother's waste |
Magistrates in Kent have issued their first anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) for a fly-tipping offence. John Murphy, from Watling Street, in Dartford, pleaded guilty to dumping rubbish from his grandmother's garden in a country lane on 26 January 2004.
He was given a four-year Asbo, fined �2,000 and told to pay �1,500 in costs by Dartford Magistrates Court.
A spokesman from Dartford Borough Council said they would always push for the maximum penalty for fly-tipping.
'Powerful message'
The court heard how Murphy loaded a number of items into his white Ford lorry and dumped them at Claywood Lane in Dartford.
Murphy said that he was not a professional fly-tipper and was simply acting in a private capacity.
On leaving court he said he "hadn't got a clue" why he decided to illegally dump the rubbish rather than pay �60 to have it collected.
Council spokesman Colin Newmarsh said: "Incidences of fly-tipping are increasing across the country and I think this sends out a very powerful message, certainly in the Dartford area, that we won't tolerate fly-tipping."
The magistrate told Murphy that if he commits the same offence again he could be sent to jail.
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