A woman who illegally dumped black bin bags in a back lane near her home has been handed a hefty bill by magistrates after she was taken to court by council chiefs.

Rebecca Duran, who is 28 and lives in Colenso Street, off Elwick Road, in Hartlepool, appeared before justices earlier this month to admit committing the offence on or around January 21 of last year.

Teesside magistrates, sitting in Middlesbrough, heard how the black bags were discovered in an alley to the rear of the same street.

Duran was ordered to pay a £200 fine, £80 victim surcharge and £200 court costs.

A woman has been fined after illegally dumping back bin bags of waster behind Colenso Street, in Hartlepool.

placeholder image — A woman has been fined after illegally dumping back bin bags of waster behind Colenso Street, in Hartlepool.

The £480 sum is to be deducted from her benefits.

Duran was prosecuted by Hartlepool Borough Council under the Environmental Protection Act of 1990 for not having a current environmental permit allowing her to dispose of controlled waste.

She is the latest in a series of residents to be prosecuted by the council for fly tipping.