A man from High Wycombe has been slapped with a fine of more than £2,000 after an unknown person was spotted dumping waste out of his van.

Zak Anthony Turner, 25, of Broddick House, Brambleside, was found guilty when he appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on January 25 for an offence of being in control of a vehicle used in fly-tipping.

The court heard that on April 7 2016, a fly-tipping surveillance camera in a lay-by on the A355 Amersham Road just north of Beaconsfield recorded images of excavation waste being dumped by an unknown person from a Ford Transit vehicle that was traced back to Turner.

When interviewed at a police station, Turner misled the investigating officers saying that he had sold the van, but when presented with evidence to the contrary he admitted that he did still own the vehicle but had lent it to a third party. 

He claimed that he found the person intimidating, which is why he had given a different story.

At the trial another man came forward and claimed he owned and had control of the van used to commit the offence - but the Magistrates were not convinced.

Turner was fined £1,153, and ordered to pay clean-up and prosecution costs of £800. 

A victim surcharge of £115 was also added, leaving him with £2,068 to pay.

Sir Beville Stanier, Chairman of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire, said: "This case demonstrates how the enforcement officers working to deter illegal dumping in Buckinghamshire are taking a proactive approach with hidden surveillance cameras that are catching significantly more offenders in the act.

“I hope this case will act as a deterrent to would be fly-tippers and remind them that it is just not worth the risk."

The case was prosecuted by Buckis County Council working on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire.

Report illegal dumping in Bucks on 0845 330 1856 or at http://old.buckscc.gov.uk/fly.