A man who advertised waste disposal services online was caught dumping and has now been fined.

Lee Nelson, of Hollands Avenue in Folkestone, ditched furniture, mattresses, a bed base and electrical appliances in Sandy Lane after charging to take away the items.

Mr Nelson was fined £700 and also ordered to pay £180 costs and £70 compensation.

Enforcement teams from Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) discovered the waste on March 15 last year.

After he originally refused to engage with the council, Nelson eventually pleaded guilty to fly-tipping and failure to provide waste transfer notes at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on April 12, 2023.

He was found to be advertising his business on Facebook and offering customers to take away the items and dispose of them for £90.

A spokesman for FHDC said: “Fly-tipping is anti-social, a nuisance and comes at a price as Nelson has now found out.

“Online services can seem too good to be true sometimes – you should never let someone take your waste away until they have proved they are legitimate.

“You can do this by checking they have a trade waste licence and ensure they provide you with a waste transfer notice for the items removed. Without these documents, you could be liable for a fine too.”

To find a registered business for disposing waste search for “find a registered waste carrier” or contact the Environment Agency.