A landlord whose South Norwood property was used as an illegal rubbish dump has been fined nearly £10,000.

At Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, September 19, Bureau Frances Delvarr Ltd its company director Jeremy Frances Delvarr were found guilty in their absence and ordered to pay £9,870 for letting the back gardens of 9-10 Market Parade in Portland Road fill with rubbish.

The court heard that Croydon Council environmental enforcement officers issued a community protection notice to both the company and Mr Delvarr, of Gloucester Terrace in Paddington on February 7 to clear the waste, which included mattresses, furniture, boxes and black bags of rubbish behind the two empty shop units.

Despite site visits from the council and a request for Mr Delvarr to attend both an informal meeting and a formal interview under caution to explain the fly-tip, the waste had still not been cleared by April 7 and Mr Delvarr had not got in touch.

Councillor and deputy leader of Clean Green Croydon Stuart Collins said: “Fly-tips on private land are just as bad as those on our streets, and this case shows our officers will continue to prosecute offences like this.

"I urge all private landlords to keep their Croydon properties tidy, and if they let them become dumping grounds we’ll take action.”