A PARTY-lover who failed to ensure he disposed of rubbish legally has faced a hefty fine.

Jordan Marks, of Kingswinford, was ordered by the court to pay £825 after he failed to ensure the people he paid to dispose of rubbish from a party were doing so legally.

The court heard Marks paid someone £10 to remove five white bin bags of rubbish, but did not check to see if they had a waste carrier’s licence.

Instead of being disposed of properly, the rubbish was dumped in Greensforge Lane, Kinver, only to be discovered by a member of the public who reported it to South Staffordshire Council.

An investigation by council officers found a letter addressed to Marks in among the rubbish and he pleaded guilty to an offence under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

In view of his unemployed status the court fined Marks £35, but ordered him to pay costs of £770 for clearing up the rubbish.

David Pattison, director of Legal and Public Health Protection at South Staffordshire Council, said: “This case clearly demonstrates the council’s constant pursuing of those who dump rubbish illegally in our area.

“Our officers work tirelessly to keep South Staffordshire free of rubbish, and people who fly tip are not only blighting the countryside, but are also spoiling it for other residents.

“It’s worth pointing out that it’s not just those that actually do the fly-tipping; people who pay others to remove their rubbish for them have a duty to make sure they have the correct licence.

"If they don’t, they are committing an offence.”