A MAN caught by a hidden camera dumping a lawnmower in Flackwell Heath pleaded guilty to the offence this week.

Mark Anthony Logan of Hillary Close, High Wycombe, was spied dumping a Flymo on Spring Lane on May 18 and ordered to pay clean up and prosecution costs of £500.

The hidden camera photographed the registration plate of the vehicle he was using, which led Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire investigators to his address.

The 49-year-old admitted dumping the lawnmower, saying he had picked it up from another place where it had been dumped.

He took the engine out to use in his own machine and said he had intended to take the carcass to the High Heavens Household Waste Recycling Centre.

He knew he needed a permit to take it to the site in his pick-up but did not have one.

Mr Logan said he felt he was not contributing to a flytipping problem as the machine had previously been dumped by someone else.

He added there was already waste dumped at the site off Spring Lane for which he was not responsible.

But Wycombe Magistrates served him with a conditional discharge along with the £500 charge, plus a £15 victim surcharge.

The case was brought by Buckinghamshire County Council on behalf of the Waste Partnership, which launched its Illegal Dumping Costs campaign in 2003.

There have since been 384 convictions against individuals and companies for illegal dumping and related offences.

Illegal dumping in Buckinghamshire can be reported on 0845 330 1856.