A FLY-TIPPER was caught when his vans became stuck in mud and was forced to call the police.

Huntingdonshire District Council found 3.5 tonnes of waste in a watercourse off Bullock Road, near Caldecote, prompting an investigation.

Enforcement officers found Erikas Pocevicius, or Cobden Road, Peterborough, had a fleet of vans and worked at a charity collector for Dreams Come True, through Byronswell Limited.

Pocevicius had built up a large amount of rubbish at his premises from unwanted material from the bags and was served a notice by Peterborough City Council to remove it.

Instead of hiring a skip or disposing waste lawfully, Pocevicius paid six other people to fly-tip the rubbish.

Shirley Tracey, representing HDC, told Huntingdon magistrates on June 25, that Pocevicius admitted the offences after one of his vans got stuck in mud next to where they were fly-tipping, leaving him no option but to call the police.

Pocevicius was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to pay costs of £2,978.38 and an £80 victim surcharge.

On sentencing, the magistrates said the fly-tipping was extremely serious and on a large scale. They added that it was well organised, done for reward and they had “every indication it was premeditated”.

Councillor Darren Tysoe, Executive Councillor for the Environment, said: “Fly tipping is an increasing problem. It can have public health implications and is unsightly. We would encourage anyone with any information on fly-tipping to contact us as soon as possible so that we can investigate and, where possible, take further action.”