A fly-tipper caught dumping waste in a country lane has been jailed – just a year after spitting at a parking warden whilst claiming to have Covid-19.

Graham Swinbourne was picked up by hidden cameras illegally dumping household and garden items in Northfleet Green Road, near Gravesend.

Bodycam footage shows man spitting at parking warden in Gravesend

The 39-year-old, of Manor Forstal, New Ash Green, led a resident to believe their waste would be disposed of lawfully.

But shortly after he drove a short distance to Northfleet Green Road, close to Istead Rise and fly-tipped the haul.

He was caught in the act by hidden cameras deployed by Gravesham council, who say he failed to cooperate with an investigation.

Swinbourne appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to several offences relating to the incident and was sentenced to six weeks’ in prison.

He was also ordered to pay £156 compensation and £250 in costs.

It comes a year after Swinbourne admitted common assault for spitting at a parking warden in a separate incident.

Swinbourne was collecting a takeaway from Gravesend town centre when he became involved in a war of words with a Gravesham enforcement officer who was enforcing parking rules.

Body-worn CCTV footage viewed by Medway Magistrates of that incident showed him spitting at the officer, adding: "Listen, I have Corona!".

Speaking after the latest court hearing, Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, Gravesham council’s cabinet member for community and leisure, said: “We do not tolerate fly-tipping in Gravesham and we use all powers at our disposal to identify and prosecute offenders.

“As part of our investment in environmental enforcement we have bought and installed hidden cameras at various locations around the borough with the clear goal of bringing offenders to justice, and in this instance the evidence they provided was irrefutable.

“Fly-tippers should beware; we can and will move our cameras. You will not know where they are or when, but the chances are they will be watching you.

“Most of our residents are law abiding, caring citizens who want this Borough clean and tidy and want action taken against those who act in this criminal way. This technology is part of our wider investment helping us tackle the scourge of fly-tipping and preventing these incidents occurring.”

Cllr Mochrie-Cox added: “I am grateful to the court for jailing Swinbourne, who is clearly an individual with no respect for others.

“The sentence should send a stark warning to anyone considering dumping waste here in Gravesham: We will find you and we will take action.”