WATCH: Bungling fly-tippers dump furniture right in front of CCTV camera

A prolific fly-tipper has become the first man to be sent to prison for dumping rubbish in Walsall after being caught on camera tipping at a beauty spot.

Jamie Humpage, aged 28 of Booth Close, was yesterday sentenced to six months in prison at Dudley Magistrates Court after admitting to a string of similar offences.

The first of eight offences he pleaded guilty to took place in Coppice Lane, Brownhills, and the remaining seven were in Back Lane, Aldridge.

It is the first time that a custodial sentence has been handed down by a judge for fly-tipping in the borough.

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Walsall Council's legal services team put the case together against the shameless fly-tipper after gathering evidence from residents, community protection officers and the borough’s clean and green team.

Photographs were shown in court of Humpage dumping mattresses, wardrobes and other rubbish alongside an accomplice from a white van, which he had been driving without insurance, while looking around to see if they were being watched.

In his summary district judge Graham Wilkinson said: “These offences are so serious I’m going to give Mr. Humpage a custodial sentence and ban him from driving.

“Fly tipping is a blight on our environment and a clear message must be sent out to other people warning them that fly tipping for commercial gain will not be tolerated.”

The ruling has been welcomed by council bosses as 'good news' for the borough as it looks to tackle fly-tipping, which costs the authority £460,000 a year.

Councillor Ian Shires portfolio holder for community protection at Walsall Council said: “It’s good news for Walsall, that this man will now go to prison for his actions.

"It sends out a strong message to other would-be fly-tippers that we are watching you and we will not tolerate this behaviour.

“If you’re one of those people paying men like this to do house clearances on the cheap – think again and stop.

"The photographic evidence used in court clearly shows where your 'out of sight, out of mind’ rubbish ends up - slap bang in some of our most loved beauty spots.

"You have a responsibility to dispose of it properly and if you don’t and we trace evidence back to you, you will find yourself in court, too.

“As the judge says, flytipping is a blight on our streets, open spaces and our communities, so residents quite rightly expect us to take appropriate action.

"A sentence of this nature reflects how seriously the courts take it."