A mother must fork out £650 after making her children dump two old sofas on a street corner in Ilford.

The woman, who cannot be named as to protect the identity of her children, pleaded guilty to fly tipping under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 after being prosecuted by Redbridge Council.

Appearing at Barkingside Magistrates Court for sentencing, magistrates heard that on January 21, Redbridge Police learned two sofas had been dumped on the corner of Dunedin Road and Wellesley Road.

The fly tip itself had taken place the previous day.

Officers contacted the council and discovered sofas had previously been seen in the front garden of a property in Ilford and worked in partnership to identify the culprit.

After the council enforcement officer reviewed the CCTV footage, it became clear that the two sofas had been dumped by children.

They used the footage to trace them back to an address in Ilford which they visited.

The woman at the address admitted her children had tipped the waste under her instruction.

In court, the woman’s solicitor said that she was expecting somebody to remove the tipped items and was very sorry.

The magistrates fined her £150, plus costs of £480 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Cllr Ross Hatfull, cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, said, “This case sends a clear message. Redbridge will not tolerate people who choose to carelessly dump their rubbish in the borough.

“We look into every case of fly tipping that is reported and the eyes and ears of residents help us to secure these kinds of convictions.

“It’s time people irresponsible enough to consider fly tipping realised that they run the risk of a large fine and a criminal record. If we have the evidence we will not hesitate to prosecute them.”

To find out more about fly tipping visit www.redbridge.gov.uk/flytipping.