A Gloucester resident has been fined over £1,000 for fly tipping waste in the rear garden of a private house in Tredworth, Gloucester.

Ms. Maria Nelmes of Trier Way was sentenced at Cheltenham Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 33.

The fly tipping incident took place on the January 1, 2016 where Nelmes transported 35 bags of putrefying domestic waste from her flat at 36 Trier Way, Gloucester to a residential property on Tredworth Road.

She managed to get access to the rear garden of the property through a closed wooden garden gate and dumped the waste whilst the owner was on holiday over the Christmas period.

Due to the seriousness of the offence it was decided the most appropriate course of action would be to take it to the magistrates courts.

As Ms. Nelmes failed to engage with the council and the magistrates courts a warrant was issued for her arrest without bail.

She was visited at her home address and arrested on the evening of Sunday 25th February 2018 and taken into custody where she stayed overnight until the next day where she was presented at Cheltenham Magistrates Court.

Ms. Nelmes was represented by the duty solicitor who mitigated on her behalf and informed the court that she had severe mental health issues. Through her solicitor, she informed the court that she couldn't remember and doesn't know how her waste got into someone's back garden in Tredworth.

However, after initially denying the offences she entered a guilty plea to the offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 33.

The Magistrates in sentencing made it clear to Ms. Nelmes that her actions were reckless, neglectful and in poor taste and that fly tipping of this nature is becoming an epidemic.

The court took into consideration the early guilty plea and the fact she has no previous convictions and the fine was reduced from £1,000 to £667. Nelmes was also ordered to pay £300 in officer costs plus a victim surcharge of £66, bringing the total to £1,033.

Cllr Richard Cook, cabinet member for environment at Gloucester City Council said: "Fly tipping waste is a very severe offence costing the tax payer millions per year to deal with.

"In this particular case Ms Nelmes indiscriminately dumped her waste in someone else's garden, showing a complete disregard for others in the process.

"This fine shows that there will be no quarter afforded to fly tippers by the city council, or by the courts and should serve as a warning to others."