A DRIVER has been fined more than £3,700 after he was found to have carrying waste but without a license to do so.

Michael Stokes, from Basildon, told police he was a registered waste carrier and said he was en route to a dump to drop off the waste, but was unable to give the name of the company who was employing him.

Stokes, now 44, has now been fined £720, ordered to pay costs of £3,709.23 and a victim surcharge of £72, following the incident in Chiswick two years ago.

Ealing magistrates court heard on Friday how police stopped Stokes in 2018 on suspicion of a defective tyre when he was seen driving a Ford Transit.

The van was filled with domestic and garden waste as well as metal.

When questioned, Stokes told police he was a registered waste carrier, but didn’t have the licence on him.

He had no documents on him to confirm his occupation.

The driver was identified as being Stokes, then of Shenstone Gardens, Romford – despite giving police an address that couldn’t be verified from the electoral roll.

His vehicle was then seized by the Metropolitan Police.

Daniel Kettridge, an enforcement team leader for the Environment Agency, said: "People and companies who transport waste within Great Britain in the course of business, or with a view to profit, are required to have a waste carrier’s licence.

"This is to help ensure that waste is disposed of properly.

“This case demonstrates how seriously we take waste crime.

"Our officers take robust enforcement action against those who deliberately ignore the law, to protect communities and the environment.”

Stokes, now of Clayburn Circle, Basildon, appeared before Ealing magistrates court on Friday 20 November for breaking environmental law.