THE FAMILY of a fly-tipper trading under the name Steptoe and Son has been forced to flee their home after receiving death threats, a court was told yesterday.

Waste collector Robert Carver dumped wardrobes, carpets, Christmas decorations, furniture and other bric-a-brac in a picturesque country lane near Heighington, in County Durham, during "a moment of madness".

Yesterday the 30-year-old, of Scott Place, Newton Aycliffe, was fined a total of £513 by Darlington magistrates after admitting depositing waste without an environmental permit and transferring waste without taking reasonable measures.

Had Carver disposed of the junk legally, the court was told it would have cost him £277.

Instead, Darlington Borough Council was left with a bill for £227 to clear up the mess he left behind in New Lane, Heighington, last October.

Amy Wennington, prosecuting for Darlington Borough Council, told the court: “Fly-tipping is a blight on towns and the countryside. It costs millions of pounds each year nationally to clear, which can be a massive stretch on council resources.

“In particular, what we are finding is that rural lanes are seen as an easy target by offenders as the chances of getting caught are more minimal and it makes an easy option for them if they do not want to pay for waste disposal in the correct manner.

“This particular site has suffered a series of fly-tips in recent times and while our officers were at the site taking photographs and clearing it away, a number of people did actually stop to express their disgust at the mess and their concerns regarding the environmental impact.”

Magistrates heard the huge pile of rubbish was discovered by police community support officers patrolling known fly-tipping areas and was eventually tracked down to Carver, of Steptoe and Son waste collectors - named after the long-running BBC sitcom about a rag-and-bone business.

When interviewed, Carver said he was unhappy about the price paid by one of his customers, so he dumped the rubbish in a “moment of madness” to get back at them.

James Palmer, mitigating, said his client had received death threats after a report of a previous court hearing appeared in The Northern Echo, and his wife and children had left the family home fearing for their safety.

“Having been the sole trader of what he has named Steptoe and Son for 11 years, this is the first time he has come before the court for any waste or environmental offences so this is somewhat out of character,” said Mr Palmer.

“Having previously priced this job at £150 he went around to complete his task but found that there were more items to be disposed of.

“Having known the family and living in that particular area he felt pressured into completing the job.

“Although he has charged £150, for the removal to be taken to the tip it was going to cost around £277 so there is obviously a shortfall there. In a moment of madness driving past this lane he decided to foolishly dispose of the waste there.

“It is unacceptable and the defendant accepts that.”

Mr Palmer told the court that since the offence came to light, Carver – who has a waste carrier licence and scrap metal dealer’s licence – has sold his truck, stopped running his business and is now receiving benefits.

Magistrates fined Carver £185. They also ordered him to pay £85 court costs, a £20 victim surcharge and compensation of £223 to the authority.

However, Darlington mayor and Heighington ward councillor, Gerald Lee, criticised the fine and said more should be done to tackle fly-tipping.

He added: “It is appalling for the council to have to spend more money than it costs to fine people to clean it up – who is getting punished here?”

John Herdman, Darlington Borough Council’s Street Scene enforcement team supervisor said: “The council will always prosecute individuals who fly tip where there is evidence.

“We are regularly prosecuting through the courts and those convicted receive fines, community service and potentially a criminal record.”

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