A BASILDON woman must pay more than £500 after dumping a huge mound of tree branches at the side of her house.

Laura Newick, of Clayhill Road, Basildon, appeared at Southend Magistrates Court on March 16 and admitted dumping the waste following the discovery in 2019.

On July 3, a Basildon Council officer carried out an inspection on Clayhill Road after a report of dumping in the area.

When they attended, the officer found a large amount of green waste consisting of tree branches dumped to the side of the resident’s property.

A note was left at the property for contact to be made to the council.

A further inspection was carried out on July 8 where the garden waste still remained.

Newick was given a caution for the offence of fly tipping and agreed to clear the waste by July 11.

After further visits and the waste still being there, Ms Newick was informed of the matter being referred for prosecution.

Basildon Council removed the waste on July 19 at a cost of £258.13.

Newick was ordered to pay a total of £554, including a £320 fine, £200 in court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.