Susan Wigglesworth, 65, of Victoria Street, Birstall, dumped cardboard and plastic packaging from her car on Grange Road in Batley.
Following the fly-tipping incident on February 1, 2025, Kirklees Council enforcement officers traced the rubbish back to the resident through address labels.
What started as a £300 fine for fly-tipping has escalated to a court prosecution and a total bill of £1,436 in fines, costs, and surcharges.
The offender had the chance to pay a £300 fixed penalty notice to avoid prosecution but failed to do so, Kirklees Council said.
Despite warnings from a Council officer, Wigglesworth ignored the notice and was subsequently prosecuted.
At Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on August 27, 2025, she pleaded guilty to fly-tipping under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and received a £615 fine, £575 costs, and a £246 court surcharge.
Councillor Amanda Pinnock, cabinet member for communities and environment said: “This case is a clear warning to anyone who thinks they can ignore a fixed penalty notice.
“A moderate fine quickly escalated into a prosecution and costs that have quadrupled – all of which could have been avoided.
“Fly-tipping blights our community, harms residents’ quality of life, and puts local wildlife at risk, and we are committed to a zero-tolerance approach and will continue to take action against offenders.”