A man from Holmer Green has been fined more than £1,000 after a stranger took rubbish from him and dumped it in two different towns.

Richard James Parker, 43, from Winters Way, pleaded guilty to failing in his duty of care regarding waste at Wycombe Magistrates’ after household rubbish was found dumped off Gore Hill, Amersham and Small Dean Lane, Wendover.

The court heard that in March this year, two separate loads of waste – which had identical items like ceramic tiles and a distinctive type of hosepipe – were fly-tipped.

Items in the rubbish were traced back to an address in Watford, where the resident identified it as having been removed from their property by Mr Parker.

During a police interview, Mr Parker denied dumping the waste, explaining that he had removed it from a client’s house and took it to the Bucks County Council Household Recycling Centre at Chesham.

While he was there, another visitor saw the tiles he was dumping and asked to have them. 

Mr Parker agreed, and although he was unable to explain why, said the stranger took all the rubbish from him along with the tiles.

He admitted he did not attempt to identify the man or check his credentials, and said he should have dealt with the rubbish himself.

At his court appearance on September 14, the Magistrates fined Mr Parker £175, and ordered clean-up and prosecution costs to be paid in the sum of £1,025.  A victim surcharge of £20 was also added, making a total of £1,220.

Cllr Mike Smith, chairman of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire, said: "The duty of care on waste holders requires individuals to take responsibility for what happens to their waste. For this reason we advise residents to take the details of waste carriers acting on their behalf. Assuming the good intentions of someone taking away your rubbish is not an excuse, as the result of this case clearly demonstrates."

The case was prosecuted by Buckinghamshire County Council working on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire, which has secured 545 convictions against individuals and companies for illegal dumping since 2003.

To report fly-tipping, upload details including location and photos online at www.buckscc.gov.uk/fly.