Flytipper fined after being caught on camera

A man has been fined for fly-tipping after he was filmed on a police bodycam following a tip-off from a member of the public.

Chunlin Zheng, of Philip Lane in London, pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Friday to fly-tipping wood in a layby on the A361 near Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

He was ordered to pay a total of £1,114 - including a fine, costs and a victim surcharge - and was told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Councillor Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, streetscene and flooding at Wiltshire Council, said: "Fly-tipping is a serious environmental crime that blights our communities, and we continue to take it very seriously."

Zheng was seen dumping waste from a van by a member of public on 22 January, who then called the police and stayed at the scene until officers arrived, Wiltshire Council said.

When confronted by police, Zheng told officers he had been paid £150 to dispose of the wood, but could not take it to the household recycling centre as he was using a commercial vehicle and would have been charged.

However, when he was investigated by a council team, Zheng said he was actually paid £350 and was working as a removal person, even though he did not hold a waste carrier's licence.

Mr Smith added: "Choosing to fly-tip as the cheaper option has resulted in a heftier fine payment and a criminal record.

"I hope that he has learned his lesson."

Zheng was initially issued a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in March but this was not paid. Part of his unpaid community work may involve litter collecting around Wiltshire.

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