A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been fined and ordered to cover the costs of clearing away a sofa, laminate flooring and cardboard boxes found dumped near a derelict farmhouse.

Thomas Nicholson, of Kildale Moor Place, Darlington, appeared in court charged with causing the deposition of controlled waste without an environmental permit after a range of materials were discovered at a “fly-tip hotspot”.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard this week that a Street Scene officer employed by Darlington Borough Council was patrolling common places where waste is dumped around the town on February 22.

Yvonne Wood, prosecuting on behalf of the authority, said: “The officer visited the subway at the site of the now derelict Little Burdon Farm, next to the A66, at around 10am.

“He found the subway to be filled with fly-tipped materials, including a smashed up sofa, carpet, cardboard boxes and laminate flooring and offcuts.

“The cardboard boxes still had delivery notes and stickers attached to them, and the laminate flooring packaging also marked up with the name ‘Tommy’.”

She added: “The Street Scene officer identified the fly-tipping as a fire hazard.”

Nicholson was traced back to his home address in the town, with his mother confirming to the council worker that she had ordered pieces of furniture for her son that had arrived in cardboard boxes.

The 22-year-old was not present at the property and hand-delivered letters inviting him to be interviewed at the Town Hall over the matter.

Nicolson confirmed he was working away at the time of the letters arriving and could only be contacted by mobile phone, however calls went unanswered when the council attempted to contact him.

Ben Pegman, mitigating, said: “He tells me another male took the goods away and that it wasn’t him.

“It’s a relatively small fly-tipping and a lot of these items actually could have been taken away by the council, but he accepts there was wrongdoing.”

Mr Pegman added that his client had failed to check with his friend how the items would be disposed of.

He pleaded guilty to causing the deposition of controlled waste without an environmental permit and was fined £130 by chairman of the bench, Julie Pikesley.

Nicholson must also cover the council's costs of clearing away the fly-tipping, on top of court costs.

Magistrates ordered the unemployed 22-year-old to pay £259.69 in costs, as well as a £39 victim surcharge.