Gateshead Council will not tolerate fly-tipping: Fly-tipping offender prosecuted following camera footage in Bensham
Another Gateshead resident has been prosecuted for fly-tipping after being caught on camera illegally dumping waste in the Bensham area.
Environmental Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Officers were alerted to footage captured on a deployable CCTV camera monitoring a back lane between Eastbourne Avenue and Brinkburn Avenue. The footage, recorded on 5 February 2025, showed a Nissan SUV entering the lane before two men exited the vehicle and proceeded to dump a large quantity of waste. Items included a mattress, a carpet, around nine bin bags and various other materials.
Following an investigation, officers identified the passenger as Stephen Lamb, 62, of Windsor Avenue, Gateshead. The driver was also traced and interviewed under caution, where he stated that he had assisted in removing waste from Mr Lamb's home address.
Mr Lamb was invited to attend a formal interview under caution but failed to appear. Both individuals were issued Fixed Penalty Notices, which were not paid, resulting in the case being referred to court.
On 22 July 2025, the case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court. Lamb pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste on land without an environmental permit, an offence under Section 33(1)(a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £205.80 in costs and compensation. The driver did not attend court, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Both men were reportedly under the impression that rubbish could be left in that location for council collection. However, this is not the case - dumping household or trade waste on public land is illegal. Residents should dispose of household waste using their wheelie bins, and for larger items that do not fit, a special collection can be arranged through the Gateshead council.
Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council, said:
"This case sends a clear message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated in Gateshead. We are committed to keeping our borough clean, safe and attractive for all residents, and that includes taking robust action against those who think they can dump rubbish and walk away.
Fly-tipping is not only illegal - it's selfish. It blights our streets, creates health hazards and costs the taxpayer money to clean up. Thanks to our deployable cameras and dedicated enforcement teams, offenders like Mr. Lamb are being identified and held accountable.
We urge everyone to take pride in their community and Love Where You Live by disposing of waste responsibly. If you need help getting rid of bulky items, use licensed waste carriers or our council collection services. And if you witness fly-tipping, please report it - together, we can make a real difference."
Residents can report fly-tipping confidentially online here.
Another Gateshead resident has been prosecuted for fly-tipping after being caught on camera illegally dumping waste in the Bensham area.
Environmental Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Officers were alerted to footage captured on a deployable CCTV camera monitoring a back lane between Eastbourne Avenue and Brinkburn Avenue. The footage, recorded on 5 February 2025, showed a Nissan SUV entering the lane before two men exited the vehicle and proceeded to dump a large quantity of waste. Items included a mattress, a carpet, around nine bin bags and various other materials.
Following an investigation, officers identified the passenger as Stephen Lamb, 62, of Windsor Avenue, Gateshead. The driver was also traced and interviewed under caution, where he stated that he had assisted in removing waste from Mr Lamb's home address.
Mr Lamb was invited to attend a formal interview under caution but failed to appear. Both individuals were issued Fixed Penalty Notices, which were not paid, resulting in the case being referred to court.
On 22 July 2025, the case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court. Lamb pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste on land without an environmental permit, an offence under Section 33(1)(a) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £205.80 in costs and compensation. The driver did not attend court, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Both men were reportedly under the impression that rubbish could be left in that location for council collection. However, this is not the case - dumping household or trade waste on public land is illegal. Residents should dispose of household waste using their wheelie bins, and for larger items that do not fit, a special collection can be arranged through the Gateshead council.
Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council, said:
"This case sends a clear message that fly-tipping will not be tolerated in Gateshead. We are committed to keeping our borough clean, safe and attractive for all residents, and that includes taking robust action against those who think they can dump rubbish and walk away.
Fly-tipping is not only illegal - it's selfish. It blights our streets, creates health hazards and costs the taxpayer money to clean up. Thanks to our deployable cameras and dedicated enforcement teams, offenders like Mr. Lamb are being identified and held accountable.
We urge everyone to take pride in their community and Love Where You Live by disposing of waste responsibly. If you need help getting rid of bulky items, use licensed waste carriers or our council collection services. And if you witness fly-tipping, please report it - together, we can make a real difference."
Residents can report fly-tipping confidentially online here.
