Man ordered to pay more than £400 after being convicted of illegally dumping waste in Gorleston
A Great Yarmouth man has been ordered to pay more than £400 after being convicted of fly-tipping.
Mitica Agigeanu, of St Peters Road, admitted the offence when he appeared at the town's magistrates' court on July 12. During the hearing, the court heard the defendant already owes more than £4,000 in existing fines for previous convictions.
The court was told eight bags of household waste were found beside a litter bin in Magdalen Way, Gorleston, on February 10. When council officers examined the bags, the rubbish was traced to a nearby home.
Questioned under caution by council officers, Agigeanu admitted dumping the waste. He was offered the opportunity to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice, but repeatedly ignored the offers and, as a result, was prosecuted by Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
Agigeanu told the court he was trying to help his girlfriend and said that he didn't receive benefits or have a job, although he paid rent. His partner was given a Community Protection Warning for failing to control her waste.
Giving him credit for his guilty plea, magistrates fined him £120 and ordered him to pay costs of £250 and a £48 victim surcharge for depositing controlled waste otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit under section 33(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
In a separate incident, the council investigated when a large pile of black bin bags was found illegally dumped on April 20 near the Herbert Barnes car park close to Cobholm in Great Yarmouth.
The waste was traced to the home of an associate of Agigeanu in Gorleston. When questioned by officers, she said he had made arrangements for a 'friend of a friend' to dispose of the waste and believed the bags were being taken to the tip.
After failing to provide any details about the friend, she was issued with - and paid - a £200 Fixed Penalty Notice for failing to control her waste.
Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, Licensing and Waste, said: ''Residents are fed up to the back teeth of people who fly-tip in the borough.
''Everyone wants a community and neighbourhoods that are welcoming and that we can all be proud of. We will do all we can to track down and take action against people who damage our environment.
''Clearing up puts a major strain on council resources and has to be paid for with taxpayers' money - so please alert us if you see problems. We can all help prevent fly-tipping and do our bit to keep the borough tidy.''
Last year the council tackled about 4,500 incidents of illegally dumped waste and has five crews dedicated to dealing with fly-tipping across the borough. It has also been running successful community campaigns to help residents understand how to dispose of rubbish correctly.
Fly-tipping in the borough can be reported via the Love Clean Streets app or website, via e-mail at [email protected] or by calling 01493 846478.
More information about rubbish and recycling in Great Yarmouth is available at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/article/8296/About-waste-management
