A Lancaster woman is counting the cost of dumping bedroom furniture in a field after being ordered to pay a total of £700 in fines and costs by magistrates. Jordana Scott, of Ellwood Square in Lancaster, was taken to court by Lancaster City Council as part of its Operation Peregrine initiative, which aims to crack down on fly-tipping and make those responsible pay for their actions. The court heard that in May last year Ms Scott committed a fly-tipping offence on land at Far Moor in Lancaster.

The fly-tip included bedroom furniture, a silver bedside cabinet and a dressing table. Witnesses were able to provide investigators with photographs of the accused and the vehicle used to commit the offence. Ms Scott was issued with a fixed penalty notice by enforcement officers for the offence and reminded of the benefits of paying it early. Having failed to pay the fixed penalty, the matter was brought before the court where Ms Scott pleaded guilty to fly-tipping some of the items, an offence under s33(1)of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

She was fined £400 and ordered to pay £40 victim surcharge and £260 costs which include the cost of clearing up the waste. Coun Brendan Hughes, Cabinet member with responsibility for Environmental Services, said: “Lancaster City Council is committed to ensuring that the law is enforced against perpetrators of this selfish crime. “There is simply no excuse for fly-tipping. There is enough information out there now through the council’s campaign for people to know right from wrong when it comes to disposing of their waste and what they need to do if they want to avoid a knock on the door or an appearance in court.”

If you want to join in the battle against fly-tipping and can offer any information which might lead to an offender being identified and caught, please call Lancaster City Council Customer Services on 01524 582491, email customerservices@lancaster.gov.uk or use the online reporting form at www.lancaster.gov.uk/fly-tipping