A woman has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds after failing to assist with an investigation into waste being dumped in County Durham.
Waste, including cardboard boxes and plastic bags, was discovered in the back alley of Bouch Street, in Shildon, on 31 January this year, by a Durham County Council officer. The officer photographed the waste and informed the council’s neighbourhood warden team, which then launched an investigation.
Among the rubbish were boxes with the name Rosie Hutchinson and her address on. On 2 February, officers visited Hutchinson’s home address. She stated that the rubbish did belong to her but it had been taken away by someone else.
After being unable to provide details of the person who had taken away the rubbish, Hutchinson was issued with a Section 108 Environment Act Notice on 15 February. This required her to attend an interview to assist the officer in his investigation.
Despite being sent a reminder about the interview, Hutchinson, 31, of Dale Grove, Shildon, failed to attend. She was then charged with failing to assist a fly-tipping investigation.
Hutchinson was found guilty in her absence at a hearing at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court. Magistrates fined her £50, and ordered to pay costs of £470.80 and a victim surcharge of £34, totalling £554.80.
Ian Hoult, the council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “There is simply no excuse for fly-tipping, with various ways of disposing of waste safely and responsibly available to the public.
“We investigate all instances of waste being illegally dumped, so it is important that people assist us in these matters so that we can take action against those responsible.”
