A SOUTHAMPTON man has been fined after piles of dirt were fly-tipped.

Toby Flanagan failed to assist Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) with an investigation after the dirt was dumped in North Baddesley.

An eyewitness saw a vehicle fly-tipping large chunks of soil and turf at Castle Lane.

Waste was also found blocking the entrance to the Southern Water pumping station.

The red tipper truck was shown to be registered to Flanagan of Fritham Road.

He was served with a legal notice, requiring him to help with the investigation.

But just two days later, identical dumped dirt was found in a second location on Castle Lane, close to that of the first.

Evidence within the soil helped council officers trace it back to the defendant.

However, he failed to comply with a second notice to assist with the investigation.

The incident happened in the spring last year.

At Southampton Magistrates’ Court, Flanagan was found guilty of failing to respond to the legal notice in his absence.

He was ordered to pay a £660 fine, £264 victim surcharge and £1,034 costs.

Councillor Nick Adams-King, said: “It baffles me that, presumably, this gentleman thought he could ignore legal notices to attend interviews and get away with it.

"That is certainly not the case, and we will always pursue the matter until it ends up in court.

“Fly-tipping is an utterly disgusting and inexcusable crime and failing to assist with an investigation is just as deplorable.

"I hope that this serves as a valuable lesson and a deterrent to those in the minority who might consider doing the same.”

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