AN INTRUSIVE council official demanded to search the house of a cancer sufferer falsely accused of illegal tipping.

Fearing his lymphoma cancer could prove fatal, Darlington man Gavin Dixon began to clear rubbish from his home in a bid to tidy the property for his wife.

Despite obtaining the correct permits and preparing the documents needed to take his six-foot trailer to the tip, Mr Dixon still fell foul of the authorities.

While tipping his waste on Wednesday, March 18, he was approached by a council enforcement officer who accused him of being a landlord and using the tip illegally.

Mr Dixon explained his personal circumstances but was left appalled when the officer demanded to search his home in a bid to establish the truth.

The former construction worker said: “Whenever I go to the tip I get hassle because of having a six-foot trailer – there’s been something every time because it’s so hard to get the permit right.

“I’d been avoiding going but the rubbish had been building up in my garden and if my turn comes, I want the house right and sorted for my wife, who’s also ill.

“This time, everything was fine until the enforcement officer turned up and told me he had intelligence to say I was a landlord and the rubbish came from my properties.

“He said I must be because I was going to the tip midweek – I told him I was off work with cancer and asked where he got his information from but he wouldn’t say.

“He demanded to come to the house and it was like CSI, he was questioning how I’d managed to build up the amount of stuff I had, I was livid.”

Following the incident, Mr Dixon attempted to lodge a complaint at Darlington Borough Council’s offices.

While there, the council enforcement officer visited his home in his absence.

Mr Dixon said: “I’d laughed at first but became more and more angry.

“To come round my house is intrusive and I’m livid about it – I just don’t need this grief.

“The tip managers say it’s all down to council rules and the council said the tip, run by John Wade, was responsible.

“They say it’s to do with traders tipping waste but whenever Joe Public tries to use the tip, we get nowt but aggravation.”

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said: “We’re sorry that this situation arose for Mr Dixon and we’ll be making further enquiries into this matter.”