A PERSISTENT fly-tipper has been ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work after being caught repeatedly dumping piles of rubbish on a footpath opposite the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch.

Munshur Ali, 37, was taken to court by Havering Council after black and white rubbish sacks, large amounts of cardboard and an industrial-sized cooking oil can were discarded next to recycling banks in Billet Lane.

Council investigators installed a CCTV camera near the theatre after residents complained about the mess.

Ali was caught on camera unloading rubbish late at night from the boot of his Ford Escort Saloon, four times between December 2 and 16, last year

He was helped by another man on three occasions.

Ali, who admitted being the owner and driver of the car, claimed he would go to an Indian restaurant in the Hornchurch area, pick up a man who had boxes and bags with him, and together they would dump the rubbish.

There are signs at the banks clearly prohibiting the recycling of plastic bags and cardboard, and one warning: “No Fly-tipping. Hidden CCTV may be in use.”

Ali, of Priory Court, east London, pleaded guilty to four fly-tipping offences under Section 33(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, at Havering Magistrates’ Court, in Main Road, Romford, on Thursday (October) 7.

He was ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work and also to pay �250 towards the council’s prosecution costs.

Cllr Barry Tebbutt, cabinet member for environment, said: “The rubbish dumped next to this recycling bin was a disgrace. It cost the council, which means local taxpayers, more than �300,000 to remove fly-tipped rubbish in the last financial year.

“We know that our residents wholeheartedly support our efforts to stamp this out.”