A Bolton resident has been ordered to pay £1,776 after dumping household rubbish at the Smithills Estate in Greater Manchester. Shahzeb Mukhtar, of Fawcett Street, was caught after 11 black bags and other loose waste were found abandoned down an embankment on Coal Pit Road.
The land is owned by the Woodland Trust, a conservation charity that reported the mess to local authorities. Following an investigation, Bolton Council identified the resident using evidence found inside the discarded bags.
The resident was originally issued a fixed penalty fine of £600 for the offence. After he failed to pay the initial charge, the case was taken to Bolton Magistrates Court on 23 February 2026, where the financial penalty was significantly increased.
The court ordered a total payment of £1,776, which includes an £884 fine, £538 in costs, and a £354 victim surcharge. This enforcement action comes as part of a wider effort by Bolton Council to stop illegal dumping in local green spaces.
Smithills Estate is the largest Woodland Trust site in England, but it has historically struggled with being a popular spot for illegal waste disposal. These incidents cost the charity thousands of pounds every year in cleanup fees and can cause significant damage to the local environment.
