A man carrying scrap metal without a licence has been fined more than £600.

Jim Matthews, of Queensway in Sheerness, pleaded guilty at court after being caught transporting the material without a waste carrier’s licence.

Matthews was stopped on on Castle Road in Sittingbourne, on November 16, 2021, during Operation Assist, a Swale Borough Council and Kent Police task force day to crackdown on fly-tipping and was not found to have the right paperwork.

He received two Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) which went unpaid, so the matter was referred to Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court where on May 11 he received a £400 fine, £205 court costs and £30 victim surcharge, an overall fine of £635.

Cllr Julian Saunders, Swale council cabinet member for environment, said: “This is a great result for our environmental team that work so hard to keep our borough clean.

“Every year we spend more than £1 million clearing away fly-tipping and keeping our streets free of litter.

“During our task force days with Kent Police to crackdown on fly-tipping, we stop anyone carrying waste to ensure they have the correct license, transfer notes and that they are disposing their waste responsibly.

“I urge anybody using a waste carrier to ask to see their license, it may seem like the cheaper option, but if any evidence is found in fly-tipped waste that links back to you, you can also receive an on the spot fine of £400.

“Anybody who doesn’t pay their FPNs will go directly to court where an unlimited fine can be given.”

To report fly-tipping click here.www.swale.gov.uk/bins-littering-and-the-environment/littering/report-fly-tipping.