A ‘REMORSEFUL’ fly-tipper who was fined nearly £2,000 said he took a job dumping waste to get the money to feed his newborn.

Mitchell Valentine, 23, from Ludbridge Close, East Hendred, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last week for dumping rubbish at two sites near Upthorne Downs and at East Hendred.

He pleaded guilty to 'unlawful deposit of waste' on two occasions and the transport of waste without being a registered carrier of waste.

Valentine told the magistrates at Oxford that he was remorseful for his actions and that at the time of these offences, his first child had just been born but he had lost his job.

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When he saw a post on social media that asked for people to dispose of waste he thought it was a way of making some money.

The court heard that he had not done anything like this before and that he would not repeat the offences again.

Magistrates imposed a fine of £400 for the unlawful deposit of waste and £250 for transporting waste without being a registered carrier of waste.

Valentine was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £40 and costs to the council of £1,073.60.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, cabinet member for housing and environment at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on our countryside and is detrimental to wildlife.

“It is illegal and we will investigate and prosecute those who are found to have carried it out.

“We urge people to use only registered waste carriers and this will help prevent this type of fly-tipping.”