The dumping of a large amount of waste at a County Durham roadside has cost the man responsible more than £1,100 following a court appearance.

Durham County Council took legal action against Keenan Samme after waste was dumped at the entrance to Gurney Valley, near to Coundon Grange, in February last year.

Having received a report of the fly-tip, council officers were able to check for available CCTV footage in the vicinity.

It showed a tipper vehicle, fully loaded with waste, reversing into a gated entrance to the field.

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A man was seen getting out of the passenger seat before moving to the back of the vehicle and opening the tailgate.

The van is then seen moving off, with its rear still up, causing the waste to fall onto the roadside, at a time when other road users were passing the scene.

Inquiries helped to identify the driver as 24-year-old Samme, of Weardale Walk, Shildon, and the van was later seized by the council.

He admitted a charge of fly-tipping at an appearance at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard from his lawyer that Samme was told by a senior colleague to dump the waste as soon as possible, after a spring broke on the van.

Magistrates expressed concern over the “significant” fly-tip, as some of the waste fell onto the road and a nearby footpath, damaging the local environment.

Samme was fined £648 and ordered to pay costs of £420, as well as a £65 statutory surcharge, giving a total court bill of £1,133.

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Ian Hoult, the county council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Fly-tipping can cause serious damage to our environment and will not be tolerated in County Durham.

“We know it is an issue that causes concern to our communities and we are committed to taking action against anyone responsible in order to protect our area.

“We hope this prosecution serves as a reminder to everyone that their waste is their responsibility and that it must be disposed of correctly.”

More information is available on the issue of fly-tipping, via www.durham.gov.uk/flytipping, on which reports of incidents can also be made.

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