Mark Timbers (45) was spotted dumping carpets and old kitchen cupboards at the Orton Centre recycling site, in April, last year, Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard.

Timbers, of Herlington, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, was caught in the act by CCTV cameras and was brought before the courts.

Dipak Panchal, prosecuting on behalf of Peterborough City Council, said that CCTV operators caught the driver of the Ford Transit van dumping the rubbish at the recycling site at about 5.30pm on April 17, last year, and again at about 5.30am the following morning.

Timbers was traced through the vehicle’s registration number.

He pleaded guilty to fly-tipping at the court on Thursday and magistrates seized his vehicle as it was used to committ the offence.

He was also ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid community work on top of having the vehicle seized.

Offenders face fines of up to £50,000 and 12 months in prison, however, magistrates decided not to impose a financial penalty after hearing Timbers owes £900 in unpaid fines and was not working at the time of the latest offence.

After the case, Cabinet member for the environment at Peterborough City Council councillor Graham Murphy said: “Fly-tipping is a serious crime against the quality of life enjoyed by our residents.

“People who commit these offences should expect to pay some kind of penalty.”

The council has recently launched a £150,000 spring clean of the city.

Grot spots all over the city are being blitzed in the clean-up as part of their Evening Telegraph backed MyStreet campaign.

Recently, council workers pulled on their gloves and began their war on grime in north Werrington.

They cleaned up 26 streets removing three-and-a-half tonnes of flytipped rubbish, litter and sweepings.

Workers also cleaned graffiti from 41 locations, including one underpass which had at least 80 “tags” sprayed on the walls.

nTimbers immediately lodged an appeal against the penalty because he claimed he needs the M-registered van for work.