A man has been ordered to pay more than £800 after transporting waste without a licence.

William Miles of Barnsole Road, Gillingham, was stopped by police and council officers in Chatham in September as part of a joint operation targeting illegal waste carriers.

The 40-year-old was asked if he was carrying waste in his vehicle, to which he replied he was. The back of his vehicle was opened, and wooden bed bases and bags were inside.

When Miles was asked if he had a waste carrier’s licence, he said he did not.

Miles was issued with a formal notice requesting him to produce valid waste transfer notes, but he did not respond and was issued with a fixed penalty notice, which he also failed to pay.

He pleaded guilty to failing to respond to a notice to provide waste transfer notes, and to carrying waste without the correct licence at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 17.

Magistrates fined Miles £300 for failing to respond to the notice and £100 for carrying waste without a waste carrier’s licence.

“Fly-tipping blights communities and, in some cases, poses a significant health risk to the public”

Miles was also ordered to pay investigation costs of £230.25, legal costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £43 totalling £823.25.

Ian Gilmore, head of regulatory and environmental services at Medway Council, said: “It is illegal to transport waste without a licence and if residents are employing someone to remove waste from their homes it is incredibly important that they employ a registered waste carrier.

“Residents can call the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 to request an instant waste carrier check.

“We also have a Fair Trader scheme which offers a list of companies who specialise in waste disposal and have trade waste agreements in place. We all have a duty to keep Medway clean and tidy.”

Sergeant Darren Walshaw, who heads up Kent Police’s Rural Task Force said: “Fly-tipping blights communities and, in some cases, poses a significant health risk to the public.

“This is why we continue to work closely with our partners to send a clear message that this unlawful activity will not be tolerated.

“I would ask anyone seeking to have waste removed from their property to ensure that the person they employ has a valid licence for the task.”