A MAN has been prosecuted for non-payment of a fine after having been found guilty of fly tipping.

Krisztian Horvath, 33, was convicted in his absence after failing to attend Bolton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, September 14.

He had originally been ordered to attend court following an incident in which he failed to remove furniture from outside an address in Hatfield Road, Heaton, despite having been told to by Bolton Council enforcement officers, which amounted to fly-tipping.

Bolton Council executive cabinet member for regulatory services Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said: “Fly-tipping is an eyesore, and it’s also expensive to clean up, and that cost is picked up by the taxpayer.

“Everyone is responsible for disposing of their own waste correctly.”

The incident first arose in November, 2019 when enforcement went to Hatfield Road, where a sofa and two armchairs had been left outside a property.

At the time they spoke to Horvath, then a resident at the address.

At first, on being told that he would have to remove the furniture, Horvath agreed to dispose of the furniture that day.

However, officers returning the following day found the furniture hadn’t been removed and Horath was issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice

Horvath, now of Fletcher Street, Bolton, failed to pay the Fixed Penalty Notice despite being sent reminder letters and so the matter was referred to court.

A backlog of cases due to the pandemic meant to case wasn’t heard until last week.

Horvath failed to attend Bolton Magistrates Court but was convicted in his absence.

Having been convicted, Horvath was then ordered by the magistrates to pay a £440 fine and £700 costs.

Cllr Fairclough said: “The message to the minority who commit these acts is that we will fine or prosecute you if you dump rubbish illegally.”

Anyone concerned about fly-tipping in their area can report it online via www.bolton.gov.uk