A COUPLE have been ordered to pay more than £4,000 after being found guilty of fly-tipping at their former home in Popley.

Emma Lipscombe and Ralph Massen were prosecuted by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council after six chairs were spotted dumped in the bushes outside the home in Pitcairn Close.

The chairs were recognised by the new tenants who saw them in the home when they had visited to sign the tenancy agreement.

Neither Miss Lipscombe nor Mr Massen attended Aldershot Magistrates’ Court where they were convicted on Wednesday, 6 March.

The pair had pleaded not guilty to the offence at a hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 31 January.

They were each fined £1,320, ordered to pay £628 in costs and a victim surcharge of £132.

Both will have to pay a total of £2,080.

Cabinet member for regulatory services and the environment at the borough council, Cllr Hayley Eachus, said: “I’m glad to see the courts share our attitude of taking fly-tipping extremely seriously. “Dumping waste is a real blight on our borough and it’s completely unacceptable.

“I would encourage anyone with any information about fly-tipping to contact us directly. This information and evidence is what enables us to continue to prosecute offenders.”

If anyone sees someone dumping waste illegally, they are asked to report it by calling 01256 844844.