A HOMEOWNER has been landed with a hefty court bill after failing to check the paperwork of someone who took away her rubbish.

Winifred Carson has been left with more than £220 in court costs and fines because North Kesteven District Council could not trace the man who fly-tipped her rubbish after she paid him to take it away.

The household rubbish belonging to Mrs Carson was dumped in Brant Broughton.

Carson, of Cleveland Square, Newark, denied leaving the rubbish there, but admitted it was hers.

She pleaded guilty to failing to make reasonable checks to ensure her waste was to be transferred to an authorised person and was fined £100, ordered to pay £114 towards the council's costs and to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Councillor Geoff Hazelwood said "The message needs to be made clear to the originators of waste that they have a duty of care to make sure it doesn't get fly-tipped."