Michael Harrison left a large pile of cables next to the road in Kitchen Lane and was reported to the council by an eyewitness.

Thanks to their information, which included photographs and video footage, the council’s environmental crime officers were able to investigate. The eyewitness was given a £100 Enjoy Wolverhampton gift card for their help.

Harrison, of High Street, Brownhills, Walsall, pleaded guilty to a charge of depositing controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Dudley Magistrates Court on 1 April.

He was fined £200, with a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £250. The costs awarded to the council will be reinvested back into its environmental crime service.

The investigation began when Harrison was seen unloading cabling from his vehicle onto Kitchen Lane at around 7pm on 30 April last year. A member of the public filmed the incident and supplied footage to the council.

Officers were able to identify the vehicle registration from the footage provided and contacted the DVLA to request vehicle keeper details, enabling them to track down Harrison.

He was initially given a Fixed Penalty Notice fine but did not pay and the case was taken to court.

Magistrates were told that the cables were not Harrison’s and that another person had originally dumped them. Harrison did then take them briefly, but thought better of it, so put them back on the side of the road.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Many thanks to the eyewitness who came forward to provide us with the vital information which led to this successful prosecution.

“Fly tipping is a horrible and unhygienic crime, but thanks to the report and evidence we received, our officers were able to investigate and bring this prosecution.

“We continue to work hard to deter fly tipping through a variety of methods including our Shop a Tipper scheme, CCTV cameras and fines. This year, we have also invested an additional £257,146 to fund extra enforcement staff and six more security cameras to be placed at known hot spots across the city.

“Suspected fly tippers should be aware that they are being watched – and they can’t ignore us. We will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice for carrying out this thoughtless crime.”

The recent court action supports ongoing work under the council’s Shop a Tipper campaign where anyone suspected of dumping rubbish will now have their images shared online to appeal for information to help identify them.

If the information provided leads to successful identification, and Fixed Penalty Notices are issued and paid or a prosecution takes place, residents receive a £100 Enjoy Wolverhampton Gift Card.

Residents can contact 01902 552700 with information or view images and report online at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/fly-tipping

Residents are reminded that waste can be disposed of free of charge at our Household Waste and Recycling Centres (tips) which are open 7 days a week from 8am – 4pm. Centres are at Anchor Lane, Lanesfield, Bilston and Shaw Road, Wolverhampton.

A bulky item collection service to dispose of big unwanted items is also available, find out more at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/book-bulky-item-collection