A VAN driver has been ordered to pay more than £2,200 after failing to co-operate with an investigation into fly-tipping in Malvern Wells.

Daniel Paduraru, of Lily Street, West Bromwich, was found guilty of non-compliance with a statutory notice under section 110 of the Environment Act.

He was convicted in his absence after failing to attend Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, June 29.

Malvern Hills District Council had originally attempted to prosecute the 26-year-old for fly-tipping after delivery packaging was dumped in a ditch off Upper Welland Road on August2, 2017.

Council officers investigating the case found evidence which led them to Paduraru.

However, when officers wrote to him asking for information relating to the offence they received no reply.

The council then offered to deal with the matter by way of a fixed penalty notice but again received no response from Paduraru.

Further attempts to contact him also proved fruitless and finally he failed to respond to the summons to attend court to answer the charge against him.

It is illegal to obstruct authorised officials in the investigation of an environmental crime and individuals are required to respond to requests for information and to answer questions put to them.

Magistrates fined Paduraru £1,250 and also ordered him to pay costs of £1,048.

Cllr Bronwen Behan, the council's portfolio holder for environment, said: “We will always investigate any fly-tip where we think there is a reasonable chance of securing a prosecution and we will not simply go away if people ignore us. Mr Paduraru is now paying a heavy price due to his failure to engage with our officers.

“We will not tolerate fly-tipping in our district and will use all powers at our disposal to tackle the problem and those responsible.”

Anyone who witnesses fly-tipping can report it online by visiting malvernhills.gov.uk/report-it.