Rogue dealer dumped rubbish

A rogue scrap dealer landed a Hednesford homeowner in court after 18 bin bags of rubbish were found dumped.

Steven Weller, aged 34, of Rowley Close, paid the unknown dealer cash to dispose of the bags which were then dumped in Newlands Lane, Heath Hayes.

Weller pleaded guilty to failing in his duty of care to ensure the correct disposal of household waste at Stafford Magistrates Court on Wednesday. He did not appear in court but entered his guilty plea by letter.

He was tracked down by officers from Cannock Chase Council who found his personal details inside some of the bags.

In his letter to the court, Weller accepted giving the rubbish to a dealer with-out checking his details for cash but he said he did not realise it would be dumped.

Magistrates fined him £120 and ordered to pay clean-up costs of £33.80.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £15.