AN ABINGDON man has been fined more than £1,300 for dumping two mattresses outside a charity shop.

Hani Haydar, 25, of Thames View, pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on July 31 to fly-tipping.

Magistrates heard how on May 22, Vale of White Horse District Council received a complaint about a pair of mattresses abandoned in a communal area of West St Helen Street.

They were found to belong to Haydar. Four days later the two mattresses were dumped on the pavement outside Market Place's Sue Ryder while it was closed.

Oxford Mail:

A sign in the shop's window said that the shop did not accept goods which are left outside of opening hours.

As one mattress was soiled the shop would not have been able to accept it anyway.

Haydar was initially given a £240 penalty notice but failed complete payment.

In court he was further fined £578 and ordered to pay costs of £548.50, a victim surcharge of £57, and £201 towards the clean-up cost.

Elaine Ware, Vale Cabinet member for housing and environment, said: “If you wish to donate items to charity you must check first that they are happy to accept them.

"If you simply dump goods next to a shop then you are fly-tipping and could face a fine or prosecution."