A ‘MAN with a van’ who dumped domestic waste in the gateway of a field near York is facing a total bill of more than £1,000 after being caught by council investigators.

Fly-tipper Adam Winterburn, 29, of Kingsmoor Road, Stockton-on-the-Forest, was fined £307 and ordered to pay a £30 court surcharge and £720.45 prosecution costs by York Magistrates.

City of York Council said a resident who posted on Facebook for a ‘man with a van’ to remove some rubbish from an address in Haxby was privately messaged by Winterburn, offering to take the waste to the tip for £35.

He said he couldn’t do it for any less as the household waste recycling centre would cost him around £15, said a spokeswoman.

He warned the customer to ensure there was nothing in the waste with their name and address on it, claiming other clearance people would take her waste and fly tip it, and she would get the blame. Winterburn collected the waste later that day and was paid £35 in cash.

Days later, the waste was found dumped in the entrance to a field in Dunnington, and evidence was found linking the waste to the Haxby address and the resident produced screenshots of all the messages from Winterburn.

Winterburn failed to attend interviews with officials or respond to any correspondence from the authority.

Cllr Andrew Waller, executive member for environment, said after the case that being licensed to collect, carry and dispose of waste was a legal requirement. “Fly-tipping is unsightly, risks pollution and clearing it up creates costs for local council tax payers,” he said.

He urged residents to check their waste carrier was properly licensed, adding that for information on waste and residents’ responsibilities, people could go to www.york.gov.uk/waste.