A GOSPORT man has been fined after he was caught fly tipping next to an area with special environmental protection.

Justin Fray, 49, of Arminers Close, was spotted dumping garden waste on the cycle and foot path between Clayhall Road and Little Anglesey Road in Gosport.

A Gosport Borough Council officer, investigating another incident, was approached by a dog walker who had seen Fray dump cuttings and grass clippings on to a verge near Stoke Lake, part of the Portsmouth Harbour site of special scientific interest.

The officer approached Fray and gave him a fixed penalty notice for £200 – reduced to £120 if paid in ten days.

But he failed to pay, and then failed to turn up when called to attend court.

He appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates Court last week and admitted illegally depositing waste on July 17 last year.

He was fined £320 and told to pay £200 compensation and £85 costs.