A builder was fined nearly £2,000 and ordered to pay £500 clear-up costs for allowing rubbish, including shower trays, buckets, toilet seats and paint pots to be dumped in South Oxhey.

Stephen Hardwick, of Enville House, Otley Way, South Oxhey, had been paid by a householder in Amersham to take away building waste and dispose of it legally.

However, Hardwick paid unnamed men to help him remove the rubbish without checking they were licensed to do so.

Although he claimed one load of rubbish was taken to a legitimate skip yard, the men dumped the rest near the Markeston Green Garages in South Oxhey.

The prosecution is the latest in a clampdown on fly-tippers by Three Rivers District Council.

Hardwick, who had previously been prosecuted by the council for failing to produce trade waste documents for his business, pleaded guilty to acting as a dealer in controlled waste without being registered and failing to take all measures on the transfer of waste to an authorised person.

The chairman of the bench, Mr Pomfrey, said on sentencing: “There are huge costs to society in clearing up other people's mess. I hope this sends out a message to you, the people you refuse to name and others trying to make a quick buck out of waste, that the courts take this very seriously"

Duncan Jones, chairman of the Hertfordshire Fly-Tipping Group, said it had helped to bring more than 30 prosecutions for fly-tipping during 2016/17 and the latest case sent out a "clear message" to criminals that they would be caught.

  • Residents can contact the council for information about waste sites, refuse and recycling on 01923 776611 or visit www.threerivers.gov.uk