Four people have been ordered to pay thousands of pounds in relation to fly tipping in County Durham.
Durham County Council took legal action after fly tipping was reported in four separate incidences in the county.
Peterlee Magistrates court heard that all cases were in relation to failing to assist the council with their investigations into the fly tips.
The council took action against Sheryl Armstrong, 40, of Woodland Crescent in Kelloe, after carpet and bags of waste were left near a layby close to Little Wood Nature Reserve.
Evidence among the waste was linked to Armstrong and several attempts were made to contact her with no response.
Following a visit from the council to her house, Armstrong admitted paying an unknown person £20 to remove the waste.
She was found guilty of failing to assist the council with investigations into the fly tip, and for not taking reasonable measures to prevent a fly tip.
She was ordered to pay a fine of £440, £576.30 costs, and a £176 victim surcharge, totaling £1,186.30.
Brad Whitfield, of Raglan Close in Annfield Plain, faced legal action in relation to bags of waste found in bushes behind Grampian Court in Annfield Plain, which contained evidence which was linked to his address.
The 28-year-old failed to respond to letters from the council asking him to get in contact in relation to the fly tip.
Whitfield was then handed a letter in person requesting he attend an interview which he failed to do so.
He was fined £440 and ordered to pay £176 victim surcharge and £549.90 costs, totalling £1,165.90.
Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “We investigate all reports that come into us of fly tipping and that includes carrying out enquiries to identify who is responsible.
“Where people do not cooperate with these enquiries, they are potentially stopping us taking action against those responsible for the fly tips. It is, therefore, only right that we are as tough action on these people as we are on those we know have fly tipped.
“The financial penalties imposed in these cases show the courts take failing to assist a fly tipping investigation as seriously as they take fly tipping itself. We hope those penalties will serve as a warning to anyone thinking they can get away with not complying with our investigations.
“It is also hugely important that people make sure they dispose of waste properly at the right facilities or ensure the person collecting their rubbish has a valid license to transfer waste and that they dispose of it correctly.”
Lauren Johnson, of Westmorland Rise, Peterlee, was ordered to pay costs for failing to help with enquiries into black bags of waste piled in a garden at her former residence in Cleveland Place in Peterlee.
After the waste was linked to Johnson, a council neighbourhood warden tried to contact her several times in relation to the waste.
The 33-year-old was also hand-delivered a letter requiring her to attend an interview which she failed to do.
She was found guilty of failing to assist the council in its investigation and for failing to dispose of the waste through an authorised person.
She was ordered to pay a £440 fine, £176 victim surcharge, and £295.30 costs.
The council also took action against Rebecca Rogers, 37, of Skipton Close in Newton Aycliffe, in relation to black bags and household waste dumped on Brandon Lane in New Brancepeth.
The waste was found to be linked to Rogers’ address and she was issued with two requests to attend an interview in relation to the fly tip which she did not attend.
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She was found guilty of failing to assist the council in its investigation and for failing to dispose of the waste through an authorised person.
She was ordered to pay a £440 fine, £176 victim surcharge and £330 costs, totalling £946.
Incidences of fly tipping in County Durham can be reported online at www.durham.gov.uk/flytipping ENDS Note to Editors: Please find images attached of three of the fly tips
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