A man has been fined more than £1,200 after his friend dumped his building waste.

Christopher Dockery, 37, of Dalbys Crescent in Tottenham, paid his friend £300 to remove the waste, including an old bathroom suite and kitchen cabinets from a property he was renovating in Leyton.

But his friend dumped the waste by Elmbridge Playing Fields and the waste was traced back to Mr Dockery after evidence in the rubbish led them to the address in Leyton.

Mr Dockery was ordered to pay a £400 fine and costs of £478.50 after pleading guilty to fly-tipping at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on June 7.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £40 and clean-up costs of £300 – giving a total of £1,218.50.

Redbridge Council says it is taking “one of the toughest stances on grime crime” and will fine or prosecute anyone or any business caught dumping rubbish.

Cllr Jas Athwal, council leader, said: “We have a zero-tolerance approach to people who dump rubbish. Even if you contract rubbish removal out to a third party it is your responsibility to ensure they have the appropriate waste carrier credentials, otherwise you could be the one in court.

“Fly-tipping is not only illegal but an ugly scourge on society. We won’t hesitate to prosecute, and when convicted we will name and shame to help stamp out this criminal behaviour.”