A carpenter has been fined nearly £6,000 after furniture and other bits of household waste linked to his business were found dumped in the woods.

The discovery was made by Medway Council's enforcement team in Hempstead, near Gillingham.

A fly-tipping investigation was launched on November 18, 2020, after officers spotted bits of discarded furniture, wood and other rubbish in a wooded area off Ham Lane.

It found two letters addressed to Marcin Niedzielski at a property in Luton Road, Chatham, one of which was was linked to his carpentry business.

In January 2021 a legal notice was sent to the 35-year-old’s business address asking for information and a copy of a valid waste carriers’ licence.

But Niedzielski failed to respond to the request.

The business owner was later summoned to attend Medway Magistrates' Court for failing to comply with a notice pursuant to section 108 of the Environment Act 1995.

Niedzielski failed to attend on Friday, November 11 and the case was proved in his absence.

Magistrates fined Niedzielski £5,000 and ordered him to pay costs of £400 and a victim surcharge of £500, totalling £5,900.

Cllr Jane Chitty, Medway Council’s portfolio holder covering enforcement, said: “Fly-tipping is not tolerated in Medway. We will prosecute anyone found dumping waste in Medway, as well as those who hinder fly-tipping investigations.

"We all have a responsibility to help keep Medway clean and tidy and dispose of our waste properly.

"If residents are employing someone to remove waste from their home, I would encourage them to check whether the trader has a valid waste carriers licence by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506506."