A prolific fly-tipper who left a trail of rubbish on country lanes has been stopped in his tracks and fined thousands of pounds.

Shane Anthony Walker, of Northview, Swanley, was caught dumping mattresses and other items of household waste in various locations near Dartford.

The 37-year-old pleaded guilty to four fly-tipping incidents at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday where he was ordered to pay £2,530 in fines and costs.

He was brought to justice following an investigation led by Sevenoaks council’s environmental enforcement team.

The first offence took place on November 3, 2020 and was recorded by a Kent County Council (KCC) officer who spotted a van tipping waste on South Ash Road, near West Kingsdown.

The quick thinking council worker made a note of the vehicle registration, took photos of the waste and then reported the incident.

It was later established that Walker had hired the van at the time of the incident.

A second offence then took place around a week later when a large quantity of household waste was dumped in Crockenhill Lane, near Eynsford.

On this occasion, the council’s enforcement team found paperwork that was traced to a business who had paid Walker to dispose of their waste.

Months later Walker struck again on March 27, 2021 when he was spotted fly-tipping household and builders’ waste in Chelsfield Lane.

Walker was picked up on CCTV by a camera which had recently been installed by KCC in response to fly-tipping reports in the area.

The final incident took place the same day at the corner of Rabbits Road and Canada Farm Road in South Darenth.

Two eagle-eyed residents spotted a slow moving van with a man walking behind who was pulling waste out of the vehicle and onto the road.

They took photos of the van from a distance then called a friend who made a note of the vehicle registration as it drove by.

Paperwork in the rubbish was also traced to builders who had paid Walker to dispose of their waste.

Walker, who advertised his waste clearance services on Facebook, was interviewed by the council’s environmental enforcement team on June 15.

In court, he admitted all the offences and was fined £1,680 for the fly-tipping offences.

He was also ordered to pay £250 towards council’s costs, £450 to Kent County Council and £150 to a local landowner for their waste removal costs.

Sevenoaks council’s cabinet member for cleaner and greener, Cllr Margot McArthur, said: “Thanks to the diligent work of our environmental enforcement team, we have stopped a prolific fly-tipper in his tracks.

“I want to thank Kent County Council and local people who provided us with crucial information to help take these offences to court.

“Our residents will not tolerate fly-tipping and nor will we. When we have evidence, we will always take action against fly-tippers who attempt to blight our district.”

Kent County Council’s cabinet member for the environment, Susan Carey, added: "Fly-tipping is an inexcusable offence and I am pleased Kent County Council was able to help in securing this conviction.”