Last Updated: 10 Feb 2012
Colleen Barrett, 43, borrowed a van from a family member to remove rubbish from her home at Butts Field, Hailsham.
She claimed she 'found' two fridge freezers in the van. She followed the directions of a young male, who was assisting her, to land belonging to Southern Gas Networks in White Dyke Lane, Hailsham. According to the young man this was a good place to dump the white goods.
Her son, Matthew Barrett, 19, also of Butts Field, was in the van and assisted in dumping the fridge freezers on to Southern Gas land.
Unbeknown to the Barretts, the area was covered by CCTV cameras. Southern Gas Networks wasted no time in passing the footage of the incident to the Street Scene Enforcement Team at Wealden District Council.
Magistrates fined Colleen Barrett £350 and ordered her to pay Wealden District Council £300 towards the cost of the investigation and prosecution, along with a £15 victim surcharge. Matthew Barrett received a 24 month Conditional Discharge and was ordered to pay costs of £295.
"Wealden District Council will not tolerate fly tipping and will always investigate any instances of this selfish and avoidable environmental crime," said Councillor Pam Doodes, Cabinet member for Commissioning and Assets.
We all need to be on the alert for incidences of fly tipping. We do not need CCTV cameras to show us how unsightly it can be in our country lanes and shared spaces."
If you have any details relating to fly tipping please phone Wealden District Council on 01892 602723. Do not try to apprehend or approach anyone you suspect of fly tipping but take any details of their appearance and the registration and description of any vehicle involved. Contact the Council as soon as possible after the incident.