A Barking and Dagenham resident who thought it was okay to dump rubbish on a public highway because they pay council tax has been ordered to pay out hundreds of pounds in court.

On 3 April last year, a council CCTV camera on St Chads Road, Chadwell Heath caught two individuals dumping a large amount of furniture on the pavement.

Armed with CCTV stills, Environmental Enforcement Officers from Barking and Dagenham Council visited a nearby flat and quickly identified one of the fly-tippers as a Mr Cionei Petrica.

Under caution, the officers interviewed Mr Petrica of High Road, Chadwell Heath who claimed that he was of the understanding that as he pays Council Tax, he is entitled to deposit waste on the highway for the council to collect.

Mr Petrica was given an on-the-spot Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) OF £400 to be paid within 14 days.

However, he did not pay the fine and later made officers aware that he had no intention of paying.

As a result, Mr Petrica was summoned to Barkingside Magistrates Court on Tuesday 23 January where he pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a fine of £500, Costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £200 and a Victim Surcharge of £200, totalling £900.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “This individual displayed total selfishness. Not only did he break the law by fly-tipping, but he thought it was justified because he paid Council Tax. 

“It all of us who pick up the costs of fly-tipping and we’re determined to stamp it out. I hope this serves as a strong warning to anyone else who thinks it’s okay to dump rubbish wherever they please.”

Residents can report information on fly-tippers by emailing grimecrime@lbbd.gov.uk.