Flytipper Lee Terry has been ordered by a court to pay more than £2,000 after dumping potentially lethal asbestos sheeting between two houses in Rainham.
Terry, 34, had offered to get rid of the sheeting from his father-in-law’s house as a favour.
But when he was unable to leave the hazardous material at a waste site, he decided to drop it illegally.
Terry, 34, then left the asbestos among 40 bags of rubbish left between two houses in Roberts Road and Century Road,
However, Terry, of Mierscourt Road, Rainham, was spotted by an eagle-eyed resident who noted the telephone number on the side of his van.
This resident then telephoned Terry to complain.
Terry returned and removed most of the waste, which he then arranged to be disposed of properly.
But a small amount of the material was left behind and laboratory tests showed it was Chrysotile Asbestos, a known cancer causing substance.
Medway Council prosecuted and Terry appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
He admitted he knew he was dumping asbestos, but said he did so after becoming “embarrassed” when he could not dispose of it as he had promised his father-in-law he would.
The court told Terry this was a serious matter and that such a penalty could involve imprisonment.
But in view of his early guilty plea, he was instead fined £1,000 plus a £100 victim surcharge.
He was ordered to pay Medway Council £1,028 in costs.
Cllr David Carr,who is in charge of community safety,said: “Fly-tipping is irresponsible and thoughtless at the best of times.
“That is particularly so when you are dumping a hazardous material such as asbestos.”