William King (52), of Sandhills Sconce, Tolney Lane, Newark, admitted four offences when he appeared before Newark magistrates on 16th June.

Prosecuting for Newark & Sherwood District Council, Beth Roberts told the court that building and decorating waste had been dumped off the A617 at Bilsthorpe on 22nd October last year.

A council investigator found paperwork belonging to King's business –– called Sure-Seal Park Home Improvement Company –– among the rubbish.

Miss Roberts said King told the investigating officer that he took all the waste away from each job to his home. On this occasion, he said he was approached by a traveller from a site in Peterborough who offered to take the waste away. King allowed this to happen but the waste was later found fly-tipped.

King admitted three charges under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 relating to failure to ensure controlled waste was disposed of correctly, and one charge of not being a registered carrier of controlled waste. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay £250 compensation for the clean-up and investigation, and £255 court costs.

Said the council's cabinet member for clean and green, Coun Nora Armstrong: "In a climate when we are constantly striving to keep our district clean and green, these incidents do not help our quest.

"However, this prosecution shows we will come down hard on law-breakers.

"Others thinking they do not need to dispose of waste in the correct manner should take heed; we will find you and we will take you to court."