The man who dumped this huge amount of waste will have to pay £298

Scott Thompson failed to attend a meeting with council chiefs after he was found responsible for dumping rubbish in a field in Boldon Colliery.

The 27-year-old, from Arnold Street, Boldon, had been invited to speak with officers, but ignored all notices.

It led to him committing an offence under section 110 of the Environment Act.

He was fined £108 by magistrates and ordered to pay costs of £160 and a victim surcharge of £30.

A spokesman for the council said: “Fly-tipping is irresponsible and unacceptable. It blights the beauty of our communities and can make life miserable for those living nearby.

“It also puts an additional burden on taxpayers who have to bear the cost of removing this type of waste and investigating these offences.”

New legislation brought in earlier this year now allows council officials to issue on-the-spot fines of between £150 and £400 to people caught in low-level fly-tipping.

Those convicted of illegally-abandoning waste risk a maximum fine of £50,000 and/or up to 12 months in prison.

If convicted at Crown Court, an unlimited fine and/or up to five years in prison are the potential sentences.

Illegal rubbish dumpers cost cash-strapped council bosses more than £200,000 in 2013/14.

Anyone who witnesses incidents of fly-tipping are asked to Report It! by calling (0191) 427 7000.”

For further information about the many ways waste can be safely responsibly disposed of in South Tyneside, visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling.