Man who dumped ex-wife's belongings outside home handed fly-tipping fine

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

Michael Hutchinson, 72, from Skegness, Lincolnshire dumped bedding, furniture and other items outside his ex wife's property in June 2014 along with a note that read: "Some things you didn't steal."

He defaced them with green paint and solvent and left them at the property in the village of Martin, Lincolnshire.

North Kesteven District Council, who received a tip-off from Mrs Hutchinson, prosecuted Mr Hutchinson for disposing of waste without a licence.

Initially Hutchinson denied the charges saying he was "returning" the items but later pleaded guilty to two counts of fly-tipping before the trial at Lincoln Magistrates Court.

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

Councillor Richard Wright of North Kesteven District Council 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."