An off licence owner has been fined £1,100 for refusing to pay fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping.

Mehmet Pektas, who owns Coppermill Off Licence in Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, was caught after officers found bags of rubbish dumped on the street and traced the contents to him.

Although Waltham Forest Council Neighbourhoods team could not prove Mr Pektas dumped the rubbish, but as the business owner he was deemed responsible.

In July 2016 he refused to pay the two £400 fines and the matter was referred to court.

READ MORE: Man reports 1000 fly-tips to council in one year

Mr Pektas, of Middleham Road, Edmonton, appeared at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday December 2.

He pleaded guilty to two fly-tipping offences and was fined £400, ordered to pay prosecution costs of £660 and a £40 victim surcharge.

Mr Pektas is the first person to be prosecuted by Waltham Forest Council for refusing to pay a fixed penalty notice (FPN).

Cllr Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment said: “If offenders think they can get away with ignoring these fines they can think again, as we will seek court action against anyone who refuses to pay.

“There is simply no excuse for enviro-crimes such as fly-tipping and we will continue to take the strongest possible action against those who blight our borough through their irresponsible actions.”