A mother has been fined after hiring rogue waste collectors to get rid of her rubbish.

Joanne Moore paid a firm to take junk from her home in Fairhead Road North, St Anne's Colchester, to the tip.

But they illegally dumped the waste three miles away instead, a court heard yesterday.

Moore said she had no idea the rubbish had not been disposed of properly.

However, Colchester Council said she was responsible for making sure her waste was taken by a registered company.

Moore, 23, admitted fly tipping and will have to pay £100.

Colchester Magistrates' Court heard that black bags full of household rubbish were found near a church in Fingringhoe Road in February.

Council worker Betty Watson searched them for evidence of where they came from.

Moore had been unable to provide a receipt from the waste collectors.

Moore, who was unrepresented, said: "My ex-partner's mate knew someone with a van who charged me £20 and I put the stuff in the back of the van.

"I didn't know nothing about it until the council came around the next day and I realised they hadn't taken it to the dump."

She said she did not have transport to take the rubbish herself and dustbin lorries had refused to take it.

  • More in today's Gazette