A 23-year-old man has been fined after building waste was found dumped in a farmer’s field in Lane End.

Edwin Thomas Smith, from Clare Road in Staines, pleaded guilty to one offence of failing in his duty of care after waste he was responsible for was found fly-tipped.

In October last year a pile of rubbish was discovered on land off Frieth Road, which investigators traced back to a builder in Southall.

On September 12, High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court heard the builder had used a carrier to dispose of the waste, and had failed to take down his details.

However the builder arranged to meet the carrier again, on the pretext he wanted him to remove more waste, and was able to take down the vehicle’s registration details.

Investigators were then able to contact Smith – who admitted he had agreed to remove the waste, but left two of his colleagues to complete the job.

Smith was fined £270, was ordered to pay costs to Bucks County Council of £1,000 and a victim surcharge was also levied.

Wycombe District Council’s cabinet member for environment, Julia Adey, said: “The builder in this case was instrumental in catching the person that took the waste away- but if he'd checked them out properly in the first place, it's unlikely that the fly tipping would have taken place at all.

"Illegal waste carriers can be stopped if we all carry out our duty of care by sticking to reputable operators. This cuts off the criminals' source of income."