A man who dumped old furniture next to school grounds in Queensbury has been convicted of fly-tipping and fined hundreds of pounds.

Robert McEntee, of Woodlands Close, Thornton, was moving house the day he was caught on CCTV last October at Foxhill Primary School.

Witnesses saw him drive through the school’s car park in a rented van and tip broken furniture, electrical goods and paperwork on a nearby bridleway, Bradford magistrates were told yesterday.

McEntee, 40, was identified through an invoice which Bradford Council used to trace him to his home.

He pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined £300 and ordered to pay £350 to the Council which brought the case, which includes the cost of cleaning up the rubbish. He must also pay a £15 victim surcharge. Aneeka Sarwar, for the Council, told the court that McEntee had used the van to tip waste at the Keighley Household Waste Recycling Centre the day before – and had been unchallenged despite a permit being required. The following day, he tried again and was this time turned away and told to apply for the free permit, which is designed to ensure that commercial waste is not left at the Council’s tips which are for Bradford householders only. Instead he fly-tipped at the school.

McEntee said he had panicked when he realised he could not use the tip the second time and had to return the hired van shortly afterwards so did not have time to apply for a permit.

He said: “It was a reckless and stupid thing to do and I admit it. The Queensbury tip was closed for redevelopment at the time so I used the Keighley one on the Sunday. When I was challenged on the Monday, I just panicked as I needed to return the vehicle and the school was en route back to the van hire centre in Queensbury.”

Chairman of the bench Richard Wightman told McEntee: “We consider that you have behaved badly, recklessly and possibly stupidly as well because it was fairly obvious that your identity was going to become known. Therefore we believe that you were acting irrationally.”

He described the waste McEntee had tipped as a “real blot on our fair country” and said that although the waste itself was not hazardous, it could be dangerous to the public and particularly pupils from the nearby school.

After the case, a Council environmental protection spokesman, said: “There is no excuse for illegally dumping waste and this has been recognised in court. Everyone has a duty to dispose of waste without spoiling our environment.

“The Council offers a range of services to residents and businesses. Normally if you hire a van to dispose of household waste, you would need to obtain a temporary permit. Permits are available at Bowling Back Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre or Keighley Waste Transfer Station.”

Further information on how to acquire van permits can be found on the Council’s website at bradford.gov.uk/the_environment/waste_management_street_scene or by ringing (01274) 431000.

e-mail: jo.winrow @telegraphandargus.co.uk