A BUSINESSMAN who runs an Indian restaurant has been fined after paying someone to dispose of rubbish which was later dumped illegally off the A131.

Humain Rashid, 26, the director of Curry Cottage, in Head Street, Halstead, appeared at Colchester Magistrates Court charged with failing to take reasonable measures to prevent the unauthorised or harmful depositing, treatment or disposal of waste.

Tope Ojikutu, prosecuting, said: “Amongst the waste was cards for the Curry Cottage, in Head Street, Halstead. The premises supervisor was then identified.

“When interviewed by police he admitted he has pad a man £125 to remove the waste from the restaurant. He also admitted he had not made any checks to ensure whether the man was an authorised waste carrier.”

Rashid apologised to magistrates for the error and said he took full responsibility.

Chairman of the bench Don Wicks said Rashid should be given “full credit” for his guilty plea.

Rashid was fined £461, reduced from an initial £692, and also had to pay the full costs of the clearance as well as the victim surcharge.