A FLY-TIPPER has been fined for dumping bags of rubbish near his home.

Istvan Lakatos, aged 30, was challenged by Bolton Council’s environment enforcement officers after complaints had been made about waste left on his land.

He agreed to move it but officers later found the waste dumped near Holland Street, Astley Bridge, near his home, on January 30.

Lakatos admitted fly-tipping when challenged by council officers but failed to pay when he was issued with a fine.

He was summonsed to Bolton Magistrates Court but failed to attend.

The hearing was adjourned and Lakatos, now of Beatrice Street, Bootle, Liverpool, attended court and pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste.

Magistrates sentenced him to a 12 month conditional discharge, ordered him to pay £400 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton Council's cabinet member for the environment, said: “Lakatos was very silly as council officers told him to remove the waste and he did it then dumped it.

"He disappeared to another area and Bolton Council found him. I think the sentence he received will act as a deterrent. This is just one of many cases, we are stepping up against people who dump waste.

“You can’t just dump your personal rubbish in the street and expect it to be taken away. This case shows that even if you leave the Bolton area you will be found.”

Recently, council staff and police join forces in Rumworth following a catalogue of complaints about fly-tipping. Staff have been removing rubbish and issuing residents with a legal warning that they will be fined if caught littering.

Cllr Peel said: “This particular operation in Rumworth is part of a tougher policy against fly tipping. People think they will get away with it and think it is a very easy way to get rid of small problem and think they will let neighbours get rid of it instead.”

He said people with that attitude will be fined and brought before the courts if they fail to pay or deny the offence.