A WASTE collector trading under the name Steptoe and Son dumped piles of household waste in a country lane to get his own back on a customer who he thought was "taking him for a ride", a court heard.

Robert Carver had collected wardrobes, carpet, a chest of drawers, Christmas decorations, jigsaws and other household waste from a property in Newton Aycliffe just days before dumping it in New Lane, Heighington, in October.

Magistrates in Darlington heard the huge pile was found by PCSOs patrolling known fly-tipping areas, who eventually tracked down 30-year-old Carver, of Steptoe and Son waste collectors - named after the long-running 1960s/70s BBC sitcom about a rag-and-bone business.

When interviewed by Darlington Borough Council, Carver, of Scott Place, Newton Aycliffe, said he was unhappy about the price paid by one of his customers, so dumped the waste in a “moment of madness” to get back at them.

Amy Wennington, prosecuting for Darlington Borough Council, said: “He claimed to have asked for £300, but they had paid him £150.

“He thought he was being taken for a ride and to get his own back, he tipped the rubbish in the lane.”

Ms Wennington said Carver had been contacted by a couple who had seen his advert in the Newton News newspaper.

She said they were preparing to move house and had a number of items they needed to get rid of, which Carver agreed to remove for £150.

“Two males arrived in a large tipper vehicle," she said.

"She asked for an extra wardrobe to be removed, and agreed to pay an extra £10.

“They were there for around one-and-a-half hours to two hours. She paid in cash and she never received, or was offered any paperwork or receipt.”

Ms Wennington said the couple were shocked by what had happened, and would not have used Steptoe and Son if they had known what would happen.

Carver pleaded guilty to depositing waste without an environmental permit, and transferring waste without taking reasonable measures when he appeared at court yesterday (Monday, February 23).

As his solicitor was unable to attend the hearing, magistrates adjourned the case until Monday, March 9 to allow for mitigation.

Over the last year, more than 300 people received fixed penalty notices, or were prosecuted by Darlington Borough Council for littering and fly-tipping offences in the borough.

Brian Graham, head of environmental services at the authority, said: “Environmental crime is a blight on the land and lives of people in Darlington.

“We will not tolerate this kind of illegal activity and will take action, including pursuing perpetrators of these illicit actions through the courts if necessary to demonstrate that this activity will not be tolerated.”

To report fly-tipping call 01325-388777, email streetscene.enforcement@darlington.gov.uk or visit www.darlington.gov.uk/your-council/report-it