A man who let a cowboy cleaner remove his rubbish, only for it to be flytipped, has been prosecuted.

Danny Frampton had to pay a court more than £200 for a £30 job to a cold caller who has never been caught.

Several sacks of rubbish had been illegally dumped in Littlestone.

Cllr Rory Love, Shepway cabinet member for the environment, said: “The law is quite clear.

You are responsible for your own waste and for ensuring that is disposed of correctly.

“Illegal waste removers are very likely to flytip your waste. If they do you risk being prosecuted.”

Frampton, convicted of flytipping by Dover magistrates last February 27, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 costs, plus £15 victim surcharge.

Frampton, 43, had let a stranger take away his rubbish in 2012 when he lived at Warren Farm, New Romney.

He said the man had knocked on his door and offered to remove the waste for £30. He said the stranger drove a van with a signwriting saying: “rubbish clearance and salvage.”

Frampton later said the man was helpful and seemed knowledgeable and he suspected nothing wrong.

But Shepway District Council’s environment protection officers were called in October 2012 after the sacks were found behind the Pennypot Dental surgery in Littlestone Road, Littestone.

They found evidence linking the waste to Warren Farm.

Shepway council said Frampton twice failed to attend an interview with council investigators.

He was prosecuted for the offence of failing in his duty of care to ensure the rubbish was disposed of properly under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

At first he said that not all the rubbish was his, claiming that others had dumped black sacks with his. But under cross--examination he admitted that he had paid for all the rubbish to be taken away.

Frampton said that he had not taken a name, got a receipt nor established where the man was taking the waste. He said he “assumed” it would got to the tip.

The court found that unemployed Frampton did not take all reasonable measures required by law, by at least having the name and address of the contractor and ensuring where the waste was going.

Cllr Love said: “If someone else takes away your waste for you, then you should at least see their waste carrier’s licence and ensure that your receive a receipt.”

He said that if in doubt people should check that a contractor is genuine by phoning the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506 and quoting their licence number.