A MAN who dumped asbestos roofing and household waste in a car park before leaving a car-load’s worth of rubbish on a rural lane has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Ian Weston pleaded guilty to two fly-tipping offences after large quantities of waste were discovered by the police and council officers.

The 30-year-old, of Welbeck Avenue, Darlington, fly-tipped in March and April last year and was witnessed by police as he drove a car full of rubbish, but returned with an empty vehicle.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday that evidence found within household waste left at a private car park on Kellaw Road, Darlington, related to an address in the town.

Following “extensive investigation”, Weston was named as the person who had collected the waste from the property.

Alongside general rubbish, the 30-year-old had left asbestos roofing on the car park on March 21, 2017, which was reported to Darlington Borough Council’s Street Scene.

The court also heard that on April 13, a police community support officer witnessed Weston’s vehicle outside a property loaded with bags of rubbish at 9pm. One hour later, the vehicle was driven away before returning completely empty at 11pm.

At midnight, a fly-tip was discovered in the rural Mill Lane area of Middleton St George, near Darlington.

Magistrates handed Weston a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and he must pay £811 in compensation to the landowner.

He must also pay £548 in costs and compensation to Darlington Borough Council.

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Our message is clear, depositing waste in this manner is not acceptable and we will take enforcement action. The annual cost of street cleaning and clearing up after fly tippers to Darlington tax payers is approximately £1.18m a year.

“The vast majority of people living in Darlington are responsible and care about the borough, these cases show that we will catch and punish those who persist in this anti-social behaviour.”