A woman has been fined for fly-tipping after being caught on Facebook.

Kelly-Jane McCoy, otherwise known as Kelly Bolden, 40, Walshford Way, used the website to contact a stranger to get rid of her unwanted rubbish.

She paid an unlicensed rubbish collector £75 to remove a cream sofa and armchair, a chest of drawers, a door and a tyre.

These items were later found dumped by garages in Stanborough Avenue.

Bolden pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to take measures to prevent the unauthorised depositing of waste at St Albans Magistrates on Wednesday, April 26.

The court fined Bolden a total of £1,430. She was ordered to pay a £500 clear-up charge, £700 in prosecution costs, £30 victim surcharge as well as the £200 court fine.

She had recently moved to the area and said she advertised on Facebook for a quote to remove items, but had no receipt of purchase and did not check to see if the man she paid was licensed or where the waste was going.

This is the first case where the householder has been prosecuted for failing in their duty of care to the environment brought by Hertsmere Borough Council.

The incident was reported to Environmental Health on October 12, last year and private CCTV footage showed two men at emptying a van at the site around 2pm the previous day.

The van’s records revealed there was no named owner and it was not taxed or insured.