A couple who fly-tipped a sofa have ended up with big bills and criminal records following a hearing at Plymouth Magistrates Court earlier this week.
The court heard how in December 2020, a Council enforcement officer came across a sofa, pictured left, along with other items of general waste, in the rear service lane of Bernice Terrace in Lipson.
Evidence among the rubbish provided an address and after conversations with the letting agent, the sofa was identified as belonging to the couple, who had moved out the previous month.
They were each issued a fixed penalty notice for £400 but despite several reminders, they went unpaid which resulted in a summons to court.
When they failed to show at their original court date, a warrant was issued for their arrest and having spent the night in custody on Monday, they were brought before the court on Tuesday.
In mitigation the couple said that although they had made some enquiries to get the sofa collected, they thought the landlord may get rid of it, with the cost deducted from their rent deposit. They admitted to burying their heads in the sand over the issue.
They were each fined £120, ordered to pay £300 in costs and made to pay compensation of £23 and a victim surcharge of £34.
Councillor Maddi Bridgeman, Cabinet member for the Environment and Street Scene, said: "Quite simply, there is no rubbish fairy. If you dump things in back lanes, it won't get picked up by magic.
"Let this couple be an example to anyone who thinks that this is acceptable. We regularly patrol back lanes, we regularly issue FPNs and if necessary, we won't hesitate to see you in court."