A 34-year-old man from Wythenshawe has admitted criminal damage and fly-tipping following an investigation by Cheshire Constabulary's Rural Crime Team.

Craig McCullough from Nettlebarn Road, Wythenshawe appeared at Crewe Magistrates on 30 December 2022.

The charges are linked to picking up rubbish from a property in Macclesfield and dumping 15 miles in an Altrincham farm.

He admitted to criminal damage, causing the deposit of controlled waste on land without a permit and being the unregistered carrier of controlled waste in the course of business for profit.

He was fined £576, ordered to pay £4520 compensation, and pay £120 court costs, along with a £50 victim surcharge.

The charges related to McCollough, who advertised himself on social media as a man with a van collecting waste, picking up waste from an address in Macclesfield and dumping it in a farmer's field in Ashley on 16 May 2022.

He had been paid to dispose of the waste correctly. CCTV subsequently captured a van at the scene and officers began an investigation to identify the driver and connect them to the fly-tipping.

Officers discovered the van was registered to McCullough, but despite best efforts he evaded them until he was eventually caught by Border Force officers as he attempted to board a plane.

PC Jim Clark of Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team said: "Instead of disposing of the waste correctly and despite having no relevant licence, he took the waste off the unsuspecting resident. He reversed onto a farmer's field, repeatedly smashing the gates to gain access causing thousands of pounds of damage, before dumping the waste.

"We gathered our evidence and brought him before the courts to ensure justice was done. I hope this goes to show that we do take rural crime seriously and that this sends a message to fly-tippers that this is not a crime you can get away with here in Cheshire."

PC Clark added: "Anyone who is looking to get rid of waste should always be wary and make sure that the person offering to take your waste has the relevant licence - otherwise the trail could come back to you, and you could end up being held responsible and face a fine."

CCTV footage of the sentenced waste collector was shared on Facebook.

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