A flytipper has been left with a nearly £2,500 bill after his matress and duvet were found illegally dumped in a North Lynn street.

It is the first prosecution over flytipping as part of a crackdown by West Norfolk council and police in the area.

Appearing in King's Lynn Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, December 13, Benjamin Zadworny, 43, of King's Green, King's Lynn, pleaded guilty to depositing waste without an environmental permit.

The incident took place on January 31 this year, where a mattress and duvet was dumped in Walker Street near the Bawsey drain footbridge.

The court was told Zadworny lent his van to his friend to help him move to a new property, not to dispose of any waste.

It was only subsequently that he found out what his friend had done.

But Zadworny was prosecuted, as he was the registered keeper of the vehicle.

He was fined £400 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £40, prosecution costs in the sum of £1,775 and £200 compensation to West Norfolk council to cover the cost of removing the waste.

Magistrates said they had considered ordering the removal of his van but decided against it because it would affect his livelihood. However, the van may be confiscated if he commits a further offence.

Councillor Ian Devereux, cabinet member for environment at West Norfolk council, said: 'This is our first prosecution as a result of ongoing work in the North End area of King's Lynn.

'The duvet and mattress could have been disposed of using the council-provided services such as the borough council's bulky waste collection scheme, or Norfolk County Council's household waste recycling centre.

'By trying to avoid a small fee for disposal, Mr Zadworny has ended up with a bill of just under £2,500.

'I hope this sends a strong message to the community that we will take appropriate action against those who fly-tip – whether that be fixed penalty notices or prosecution.

'Local waste services are available and there really is no excuse for fly-tipping.'

Earlier this year, in a bid to crackdown on fly-tipping in North Lynn, the council introduced plans to impose a £200 fixed penalty fine to people who dumped waste illegally in West Norfolk.