FAILURE to comply with an investigation into fly-tipping has cost a man more than £1,800.

Karl Hogg, 28, from Baker Street, Houghton-le-Spring, was linked to the illegal dumping of several bags containing builder’s rubble, carpets and wood.

He did not co-operate with Durham County Council officers who were attempting to investigate the incident as part of the authority’s Operation Stop It campaign and has now been ordered to pay £1,819.62.

Peterlee magistrates heard how a council neighbourhood warden attended a report of fly-tipping at Brandon in May last year.

The warden recovered evidence linking the fly-tip to an address in Brandon, where the occupant confirmed the waste had been taken away after a bathroom fit.

The warden contacted the bathroom fitter who provided contact details of a man who had removed the waste, who he believed to be named ‘Karl.’

The man was contacted and confirmed his name was Karl Hogg.

She asked whether she could visit his home but Hogg said he was not available.

A number of further attempts were made to speak to the defendant without success.

He was subsequently charged with failure to comply with a fly-tipping investigation.

Hogg failed to attend court earlier this week and was found guilty in his absence.

Magistrates ordered him to pay a fine of £500, costs of £1,269.62 and a victim surcharge of £50.

Hogg was also fined a further £293 on a separate charge brought by magistrates of failing to surrender to the court.

It was the fifth time he had not attended a hearing in relation to the case, with his appearance on two other occasions secured by the issuing of warrants for his arrest.

Ian Hoult, the council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Fly-tipping is a real blight on our environment and that is why we take action wherever we can through Operation Stop It against those who do it.

“In this case, we were able to link the fly-tip to Mr Hogg but he did not co-operate with our investigation.

“Because of that he has now to pay over £1,800 and that kind of penalty should act as a warning of what can happen if people don’t comply.

“This case also shows that you should never allow anyone to remove waste without knowing both that they are licensed to carry it and where they are taking it.”