Video has emerged of a convicted flytipper who drove 30 miles to dump a truckload of tree cuttings in Salford.
John Buckland, 45, from Accrington in Lancashire, told council officers that he had been paid £20 to clear a garden before dumping the waste at Thurlow Street, Salford.
But later in the day he claimed the cuttings actually came from his own land.
On Wednesday 27 May Buckland, pleaded guilty at Manchester and Salford Magistrates court to illegally dumping waste.
He was fined just £73, but ordered to pay £500 costs and £20 victim surcharge.
The court heard that Salford City Council’s CCTV operatives watched in amazement as Mr Buckland backed his tipper truck into the cul de sac and emptied the huge pile of garden waste onto the street before driving away.
He was traced and told council officers he had no money to get home so had used the £20 he was paid from clearing a garden to put petrol in his tank.
But later the same day he rang back to say the tree cuttings and waste had come from his own land at the caravan site and that he had not been paid to clear a garden.
Speaking after the case, Councillor Gena Merrett, assistant mayor for housing and environment, said: “I find it impossible to believe anyone would drive 30 miles to dump tree cuttings from their own land in a city street.
“I’m also very disappointed at the fine. I think it sends out entirely the wrong message to people who think they can use our streets as a rubbish bin.
“Every pound we spend clearing up after fly tippers is a pound which could be better spent on essential services.”
