Man fined for fly-tipping after dumping items for ex-wife in front garden

A man who claimed he was "returning" items to his ex-wife when he dumped them in her front garden has been fined for fly-tipping.

Michael Hutchinson, 72, of Church Lane, Skegness, Lincolnshire, dumped bedding, furniture and other items with the message "Some things you didn't steal" outside the home of his former partner in June 2014.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of fly-tipping and was ordered to pay more than £2,300 after appearing at Lincoln Magistrates' Court last week.

North Kesteven District Council said Hutchinson did not believe he had fly-tipped and argued that he was "returning" the items but changed his plea to guilty before trial.

He was fined £625 and ordered to pay costs of £1,229.88, a victim surcharge of £63 and £400 compensation to his former partner.

Councillor Richard Wright said: "The district council has never tolerated fly-tipping, and although Hutchinson considered himself to be returning the items, he was in fact committing an offence.

"We take this very seriously, and will prosecute anyone who is caught doing so."