A company has been fined after a three-piece suite was spotted being dumped from the back of one of its vans in Lichfield.
Cannock-based Mobile Toilet Service Limited was found guilty of a fly tipping offence on March 24.
Lichfield District Council started legal proceedings when a witness came forward after seeing a sofa and two matching armchairs dumped from one of the company’s vehicles in a lay-by on Watery Lane.
The director was later interviewed under caution but failed to inform the council who was driving the vehicle at the time.
The court heard that an ex-employee had been responsible for the offence, but as registered keepers of the vehicle used to commit the crime, Mobile Toilet Service Limited was prosecuted and found guilty.
The company was handed a fine of £700, costs of £1,348, and a victim surcharge of £70 – a total of £2,118.
Helen Titterton, Lichfield District Council’s Strategic Director of Community, Housing & Health, said: “This case shows how important it is for companies to have a tight control of what their vehicles are used for, as they are ultimately held responsible for any fly-tipping that might be carried out using any of their vehicles.
“It also illustrates just how vital it is that local people report any incidences of fly-tipping they might see. The only reason we could prosecute this case was that a witness came forward and gave us the information necessary to investigate and start legal proceedings.
“If you see someone fly-tipping or would like to report an area where fly-tipping has taken place, please take a note of the date, time and place it occurred, as well as what the waste looks like and how much there is.
“If you have seen someone dumping waste, please also get a description of the vehicle involved along with the registration number.”
To report fly-tipping visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/reportit or call 01543 308999.
