A man who left a Christmas card with his name on among bags of rubbish and packaging he dumped at a Staffordshire beauty spot has had to pay out more than £700.

Nigel Kerr, aged 51, of Greenwood Park, Hednesford, was traced and prosecuted at Stafford Magistrates Court. Officers from Cannock Chase Council discovered the greeting card.

It was found among rubbish illegally dumped in New Hayes Road, Cannock Wood, in January this year.

Kerr entered a formal guilty plea and has had to shell out a total of £735.

He was fined £130, reduced from £200 due to his early guilty plea, a victim surcharge of £15, and  prosecution costs totalling £590.

Councillor Janos Toth, deputy leader of the council     said: “We always seek a prosecution in cases of fly tipping so we are especially pleased with the outcome in this case.

“Dumping rubbish is both irresponsible and illegal and a momentary lapse of judgement can come back to haunt you, leading to hefty fines.”

In mitigation, Kerr said he had not intended to leave the waste but had driven away without realising. He also apologised for what he had done.

It was agreed by the court that Kerr would repay the costs at the rate of £50 per month. The Express & Star reported  this week that many fly-tippers are evading justice – with just one successful prosecution from more than 500 offences in 12 months in one of the worst-performing areas.