A 31-year-old man has been fined more than £5,000 and handed a suspended prison sentence after dumping asbestos on the M40 near Fulmer in July last year.

Florin Arsene, of Park Avenue in West Drayton, was caught on camera leaving a van-load of the toxic substance on the M40 emergency vehicle turnaround ramp on July 10, Aylesbury Crown Court heard.

He also admitted to illegally dumping green waste on the opposite side of the motorway on August 9 2016.

Judge Francis Sheridan sentenced Arsene to four months in prison, suspended for two years, and fined him £3,000 for the first offence and £2,000 for the second June 15.

He was also ordered to pay £4,984.50 towards the clear-up operation and investigation and was disqualified from driving for four months.

Judge Sheridan said he did not believe that Arsene’s defence that he was not aware he was committing a crime, adding “we do not need people messing up our beautiful county of Buckinghamshire.”

Buckinghamshire County Council’s planning chief, Bill Chapple, said: “The site of this offence is isolated, the offender struck in the dead of night and took steps to avoid being seen - but still our cameras were able to film the offence taking place and allow him to be identified.

“The sentence handed down in this case shows that there is no tolerance for this type of behaviour, and perpetrators should be aware that we will pursue them whenever possible - one offence may be all that's needed to land you in court.

"I'd also like to remind the community to remain vigilant - if you see anyone fly tipping, take down the licence number and let us know online or through the hotline."

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

The waste partnership launched the ‘Illegal Dumping Costs’ campaign in November 2003 to tackle fly-tipping crimes in Bucks.

Since then 588 convictions have been made against individuals and companies, and on average, since April 2010 there has been at least one conviction per week.

Report fly-tipping in Buckinghamshire at www.buckscc.gov.uk/fly or call the hotline 0845 330 1856.