A Sittingbourne man is almost £1,000 out of pocket after rubbish was found dumped.

Barry Daynes, of Swanstree Avenue, was prosecuted by Swale council after pallets and building waste was left at Rawlings Street, Milstead, near Sittingbourne, in May last year.

Council officers traced the waste back to Daynes who, when asked to help explain how it got there, failed to assist the council with its inquiries.

As there were no witnesses to the fly-tipping, and no further information about how it got there, the council decided to prosecute the 30-year-old for failing in his duty of care to make sure his waste was handled responsibly.

Daynes pleaded guilty to a charge under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

He was fined £400 and ordered to pay costs of £420, compensation of £120 and a victim surcharge of £40.

Cllr David Simmons, cabinet member for environment and rural affairs at the council, said: "Householders have a duty of care to make sure whoever is taking waste away will dispose of it properly.

"If someone doesn't help us to identify who dumped their waste, we still can – and clearly will – take appropriate legal action.

"We need people to understand that their waste is their responsibility.

"Anyone offering to take it away has to be registered to carry waste, or it could end up fly-tipped, and you could be prosecuted for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent it."

To check whether someone is licensed to carry waste visit the Environment Agency website or call 03708 506506.

For more information about fly-tipping, and what the council is doing to tackle it, visit www.swale.gov.uk/fly-tipping