Man fined for emptying bin of rubbish in street

A fly-tipper who was watched by police as he dumped a bin full of carpets and lino in a Black Country street has been hit with a bill for almost £800.

Peter Mahabee from Walsall went door-to-door around local businesses offering to remove their waste. But he was spotted by police wheeling a large bin into Wednesbury Road, and emptying the contents in bushes.

The 47-year-old, of Wood House, Little London, Willenhall, admitted the offence from July 15 last year when he appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday.

Mrs Kerry Munro, prosecuting, said that a police officer first spotted Mahabee pushing a large waste bin along Countess Street.

He then emptied the full contents into bushes on land next to the old Railway Social Club.

Mrs Munro said: "The officer approached the defendant who said he did not know he could not deposit the waste nor that it was illegal to do so.

"He informed the officer he was visiting businesses and was being paid to clear their waste. He would not provide details of who paid him to carry out the service."

Police later reported the offence to Walsall Council's environmental health department.

Mahabee, who was not represented, apologised for his actions and said he had not been paid a lot to clear away rubbish.

He said: "I would like to apologise to the council. I feel ashamed. It won't happen again."

District Judge Michael Morris, sentencing Mahabee, said: "The dumping of waste is a major problem in Walsall as it is in other parts of the country."

Mahabee was fined £100, and told to pay £678.14 costs and also a £15 victim surcharge.

Speaking after the case, Councillor Zahid Ali, thecouncil's cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said: "This is the second Walsall fly-tipper who has been convicted by the courts since May this year and it is another excellent result.

"Fly- tipping is unacceptable and hopefully this case will act as a warning to others and send out the message that we will take action and, if caught, people can expect to receive a substantial fine."