Sam Russell, 24, was sentenced to a 12-month community order for 150 hours unpaid work, after pleading guilty to fly-tipping three vanloads of waste in Hastingwood, North Weald and 15 black sacks of rubbish in Wickham Bishops Road, Hatfield Peverel.

Almost £2,000 in court costs

At Chelmsford Magistrates court on 19 January 2017, he was ordered to pay £1983.70 for both Epping Forest and Braintree District Council’s court costs along with an £85 victim surcharge.

Environment and Neighbourhood officers from Epping Forest District Council were called to investigate a fly-tip consisting of mattresses, sofas, building materials, carpets and other waste that had been left on a public footpath in Hastingwood. Evidence led the team to Sam Russell, who had been paid to remove the items from properties in Harlow.

It was came to light that Russell was also being investigated by Braintree District Council and so Epping Forest District Council undertook prosecutions for both offences.

Councillor Will Breare-Hall, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Epping Forest District Council said: ”This case highlights the excellent joined up work carried out by local authorities to catch and hold fly-tippers accountable for their criminal actions.”

”Fly-tipping will not be tolerated. It causes extensive damage to our local environment and ruins the beautiful areas we enjoy living in. This case shows that even if fly tippers cross local authority boundaries it does not mean the culprits will escape investigation or prosecution.”

”I urge residents to report details of any fly-tipping in the Epping Forest District.”