A TRADESMAN who illegally fly-tipped at several areas in the East Lothian countryside has been ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community.

Craig Fraser, 33, had been employed by customers to legally dispose of the household waste but it was dumped instead.

Fraser operated the firm AC Man With A Van Services through Facebook and was caught out when documentation found at the dumping sites identified his business.

The household waste included toys, bed frames and mattresses.

The workman claimed he was not the employee responsible for the illegal dumping and had hoped dash-cam footage from his van would prove his innocence.

But last month, Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the camera footage only showed the dumping of the material and not who was driving the van and responsible for the fly-tipping.

Solicitor Matthew Nicholson said the father-of-one was pleading guilty to three offences of illegal dumping as ultimately he was in charge of the business at the time of the offending.

Fraser, from Musselburgh, was back in the dock for sentencing on Tuesday, where Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss told him he must carry out 216 hours of unpaid work as punishment.

Following sentencing, Karon Rollo, head of the wildlife and environmental crime unit of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “Craig Fraser showed a clear disregard for the environment.

“Fly-tipping causes the public real and legitimate concern. It is criminal behaviour which creates an eyesore and is costly to clear up.

“There is no excuse for illegally dumping waste and those who choose to engage in it will be brought to account for their actions.”

Fraser pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste, namely household waste, without the authority of a waste management licence at Trabroun Farm near Gladsmuir between January 31 and February 1, 2019, and at Prora Farm, near Drem, between February 1 and 5, 2019. He also admitted dumping waste without the proper licence at Prestongrange Mining Museum, Prestonpans, between January 30 and February 2, 2019.