A BOTLEY man was caught on hidden cameras dumping 70 wooden pallets at a fly-tipping hotspot in Cumnor.

Constantin Doru Miron, 33, had gone to the site on the B4017 with a friend to dump the pallets on March 7, unaware that the site was secretly being monitored by Vale of White Horse District Council’s Environmental Protection officers.

Mr Miron of West Way, was ordered to pay £1,200 after admitting the offence at a hearing at Oxford Magistrates' Court.

His accomplice, Cornel Lingurar, 32, formerly of Ginge Close, Abingdon, failed to attend court and is believed to have left the country. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The court heard how Mr Lingurar had purchased a van to take back to Romania, however the sale included the 70 pallets which were already stored inside.

Rather than dispose of them legally, however, the pair drove to the compound where they had seen rubbish dumped before.

Using the footage, officers traced the pair and requested they remove the pallets from the site and dispose of them legally, which they then did.

Mr Miron was fined £733 and also ordered him to pay costs of £446.50, along with a victim surcharge of £73.