A MAN has been fined £1,200 after twice dumping builders' waste in the Hampshire countryside.

Gary John Cooper, 55, of Oaktree Field in Salisbury, was prosecuted after leaving five loads of waste at Hale and one load in Rockbourne in two incidents a week apart.

As well as being fined he was also told to do 150 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

Cooper was sentenced at Southampton Magistrates' Court after being found guilty in May of two counts of fly-tipping.

Rubble and plasterboard were dumped on a farmer’s land at Rockbourne just days after Cooper carried out fly-tipping at Hale, where evidence leading to his identification was found among the rubbish.

Cllr Alison Hoare, New Forest District Council's cabinet member for environment and regulatory services, issued a warning to anyone else thinking of polluting the countryside.

He said: “Fly-tipping is relatively rare in the district but when it does happen we will not hesitate to take action.

"This prosecution sends a clear message to anyone who thinks they can get away with fly-tipping in the New Forest. We will investigate and we work with police to take offenders to court.

“Dumping waste not only damages the look of the Forest it can also be extremely harmful to wildlife. I would urge anyone seeing any activity that they suspect may be fly tipping to report it to us.”

Fly-tipping can be reported to the council by calling 023 8028 5000 or by going online and visiting newforest.gov.uk.