A licensed waste carrier has pleaded guilty to not preventing fly tipping after a lorry load of waste was dumped in a rural road.

Curtis Sexton, 28, of Staines-upon-Thames, appeared at St Albans Magistrates Court on September 19.

Mattresses, furniture, paperwork, and other waste was found ditched in Old Uxbridge Road in Maple Cross, following a job the previous day in Harefield.

Mr Sexton claimed in court that it was a colleague who dumped the waste after the two men “fell out over wages”. Mr Sexton, who holds a licence, gained the trust of a homeowner to take the waste which he was supposed to dump at a proper waste disposal site.

In court, the defendant said he was currently in receipt of benefits and had limited means. He was ordered to pay fines, clear-up, and legal costs which came to a total of £1,492.

Three Rivers District Council leader Sara Bedford hopes the fines sends out a message that those who dispose of waste illegally will be prosecuted.

Cllr Bedford said: "It is important that people know their duty of care when it comes to responsible waste disposal.

“It is important to dispose of unwanted items properly, by taking them to their nearest household waste recycling centre, arranging for them to be collected by the council or use a properly licenced waste management contractor and make sure you check their licence details first."