AN ELDERLY woman has caught a fly-tipper in the act on CCTV after rubbish has been repeatedly dumped over her garden gate.

Valerie Whitlock, 79, has lived in her Shirley house in Southampton for almost 50 years with her husband Len Whitlock.

But she has been plagued by fly-tipping dumped in her garden five times.

She installed CCTV cameras outside her property with the help of her nephew.

Shocking footage - recorded while she was asleep in her home - captures a fly-tipper emptying a sack full of grass cuttings and building material over Valerie's front garden gate.

Recorded on Wednesday night, the unknown man was seen approaching her gate with a sack and up-ending its contents before walking away.

Daily Echo:

The unsettling incident took place around 11.45pm.

Speaking to the Echo about the incident, former Beavis Funeralcare worker Valerie said: "I just can't understand why anyone would do this.

"I try not to think about this. I can't let someone affect me to this extent."

She said waste has repeatedly appeared late at night. Valerie said the fly-tipping incidents started two years ago after the death of her husband.

Meanwhile, Valerie's nephew, who does not want to be named, said he is very concerned about her safety.

Daily Echo: Pensioner Valerie WhitlockPensioner Valerie Whitlock

He said: "This man has been doing this for over a year now and you don't know his next move. I don't think he is likely to stop.

"My aunty has had many sleepless nights and she is feeling victimised.

"The first time we noticed the rubbish, we thought, 'never mind, it was a one-off. But it is not.

"I don't think he lives locally. In this neighbourhood, everyone knows everyone.

"This man drives from somewhere else and goes out of his way to do this."

The incident has been reported to the police as well.

They said: "During the early hours of July 29, a man attended an address on Clarendon Road and left items in her front garden."

Valerie is pleading for witnesses to come forward with any information to help police catch the man. 

Call police on 101 with any information.

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