A woman from Wolverhampton paid a stranger to get rid of her rubbish only for it to be dumped it on the side of a road, a court heard.

Bags of junk and a mattress belonging to Lorraine Roberts were discovered by council officers less than a mile away from her home. The 52-year-old, of Parkfield Road, claimed she gave a man £20 to take the rubbish away in May last year, Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard yesterday. But the trash was ditched at the roadside instead.

Miss Anya Newman, representing Wolverhampton City Council, told the court: “The council received a complaint about rubbish in Bowen Street.

“Officers saw bags of rubbish and an old mattress dumped on the grass.”

Miss Newman told the court officers searched the bags and discovered documents with Roberts’ address on them.

“She was visited by the officers and in an interview a few days later, told investigators she thought the man would dispose of the waste correctly.”

Miss Newman added the council had trouble contacting Roberts at her home and had to visit six times before she was in.

The dumped waste was cleared away by Roberts’ son, the court heard.

Mr David Dorrance, defending, said Roberts did not realise the man had dumped the rubbish on the side of the road.

“She had a mattress in her shed for a few weeks and bags,” Mr Dorrance said.

“A man asked her if she had any odd jobs and said he would remove the mattress and rubbish for £20.

“She was not aware of the laws, that people need to ensure waste is transferred to an authorised person.”But ignorance of the law is no excuse.”

Roberts, who is claiming incapacity benefit for depression, pleaded guilty to transferring controlled waste without taking reasonable measures under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

She appeared visibly upset as she was handed a six-month conditional discharge and had to pay £250 costs.