Letter in rubbish dumped in Dalton leads to prosecution

Nov 18 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

COUNCIL investigators used a letter found in a pile of illegally-dumped rubbish to bring charges against a woman from Honley.

Louise Thomas, 42, was ordered to pay £315 after being found guilty of failing to dispose of household waste in the correct way.

Magistrates also locked her up for six hours yesterday after hearing she had more than £600 in outstanding fines for a range of previous convictions. Those fines were cancelled.

Huddersfield Magistrates Court heard yesterday how officers from Kirklees Council’s environmental health department found bags of rubbish dumped at Kilner Bank in Dalton on January 30.

Among the sacks was a letter addressed to Thomas’s former home at Long Grove Avenue in Dalton.

The council used council tax records to discover Thomas was the main tenant.

She was sent a series of letters ordering her to take action to clear the waste and warning her that she faced prosecution if she failed to do so.

Thomas ignored the first letter, but called the council when she got a second one.

An appointment was arranged for her to explain herself to council officers, which she failed to attend.

Further letters were also ignored.