A flytipping stranger who dumped an Ipswich couple’s rubbish twice after they paid him to dispose of it has cost them nearly £1,000.

Lee Wolton and Sophie Crowley, of Leighton Road, Ipswich, claimed the man had been given a total of £30 to take away the waste for them.

The pair pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court to two charges of failing to ensure the transfer of household waste was authorised.

The debris was dumped in Gainsborough Lane on both occasions.

At 10.15am on June 20 last year a park patrol supervisor at Orwell Country Park was alerted to a large amount of flytipping in the road which runs along the park. The rubbish was spread out over three different places along the lane.

Among the waste the patrol supervisor found the names Crowley and Wolton. Crowley and Wolton’s address was also among the waste.

At 6.25pm on August 18 the park patrol supervisor discovered more items had been disposed of along Gainsborough Lane. The names of Crowley and Wolton, along with their address were discovered.

When Wolton was interviewed by Ipswich Borough Council staff he said he had paid a man £20 on June 20, and had given the same man £10 on August 18 to take his rubbish to the dump.

Crowley told a waste enforcement officer she did not know the man who her boyfriend paid to take the rubbish and had never seen him.

In court Wolton said he did not realise he had a duty of care to check the person who was to dispose of the items was licensed to do so.

Wolton was fined £160 and ordered to pay £30 to the victims’ fund as he currently has no income.

Crowley was fined £350 and ordered to pay £400 prosecution costs as well as £30 to the victims’ fund.

After the case borough councillor Neil MacDonald said: “We will take action whenever we can to stop fly-tipping in Ipswich.

“Residents should not hand over rubbish to strangers who appear at the door. It might seem a cheap option but in this case has cost the householders a lot more.

“People should either take their bulky waste to a household waste site themselves or contact the Borough Council, which can come and collect up to five items for £27.”