Wakefield fly-tipper caught after investigators hid GPS tracker in hot tub
A court heard Kacper Kruk, 26, was arrested after the device was tracked to a street in Wakefield where waste material had been illegally dumped.
Last updated 9th Sep 2026
A fly-tipper was caught after council investigators hid a GPS tracker inside a hot tub during an undercover sting.
A court heard Kacper Kruk, 26, was arrested after the device was tracked to a street in Wakefield where waste material had been illegally dumped.
Kruk was ordered to pay almost £2,500 over the incident after pleading guilty two fly-tipping offences.
Paul Jaques, prosecuting, told Kirklees Magistrates’ Court how an investigation began in March this year after Wakefield Council officers discovered fly-tipped waste in Castleford.
Enquiries revealed that a resident had paid what he believed to be genuine company to remove waste from his property and a telephone number for the firm was obtained by the authority’s anti-social behaviour officers.
The officers contacted the number via Whatsapp and arrangements were made for a waste collection from a property in Castleford on April 16.
Mr Jaques said: “Prior to collection of the waste a GPS tracking device was located inside a hot tub lid and the waste was marked.”
Kruk and another man arrived at the property in a white van.
The defendant was paid £200 and gave out a business card before the waste was taken away in the vehicle.
The tracker was then monitored and was traced to Trinity Street in Belle Vue, Wakefield, around 45 minutes later.
The prosecutor said: “Officers attended that location and discovered the waste had been deposited beside domestic bins.”
A second purchase was arranged through the business card number Kruk had provided.
The defended attended and this time quoted £400 for removing waste.
Mr Jaques said: “As he started to load the waste onto a different vehicle police and anti-social behaviour unit officers arrived and took control.”
Kruk, of Thornes Lane, Wakefield, was interviewed and admitted being the owner of the van and being present when the waste was collected on the first occasion.
He also told officers that he did not have a waste carriers’ licence required to carry out the work.
He pleaded guilty to one office of depositing controlled waste without an environmental permit and one of transporting controlled waste without a licence.
Kiran Jabeen, mitigating, said Kruk pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage and had co-operated with investigators.
The solicitor said Kruk carried out the offence after getting involved with a business run by his friend.
She said Kruk had been paid £20 in petrol money to take the material to Trinity Street and had been told it would then be taken away by someone else.
Ms Jabeen said: “Mr Kruk had no knowledge of the world of disposable waste and the licence that was required.
“He is apologetic for not looking into what was required of him and just going off a friend’s words.”
Kruk was ordered to pay a total of £2,421, which included a £480 fine, £1,456 court costs and £292 council compensation.
After the hearing, Rebecca Webster, the council’s cabinet member for safer, stronger communities, said: “We are pleased with this result and hope it sends a clear message to anyone thinking about fly-tipping in the Wakefield district – it will not be tolerated, and you stand to lose use of your vehicle and face criminal proceedings.
“We urge all residents to ensure that they are using registered waste collectors to get rid of their rubbish.
“Remember to always ask, record and keep information on anyone you are using to dispose of your waste.”