Outpouring of support for couple fined £1,200 for clearing up rubbish outside their house

11 July 2024, 13:58 | Updated: 11 July 2024, 14:04

Veronika Mike set up a GoFundMe for her and her boyfriend
Veronika Mike set up a GoFundMe for her and her boyfriend. Picture: GoFundMe

By Emma Soteriou

A couple who were fined for cleaning up rubbish outside their home have received an outpouring of support.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Veronika Mike and Zoltan Pinter, from Stoke-on-Trent, started a fundraiser to help pay off the fines they received from cleaning the area.

They say there is a spot on their street that usually has "a lot of garbage around the bins" and so they "voluntarily cleaned" the area to stop rats from appearing.

Mr Pinter took matters into his own hands on April 29, filling a cardboard box with waste and leaving it in the "nobody's bin" - owned by no one in the area.

The box was later thrown to the ground, the couple claim, with authorities discovering it with Mr Pinter's details.

Days later, the pair each received £600 fines for fly-tipping.

Read more: War memorial caretaker has tools stolen, sparking outpouring of support, as Dan Walker steps in to help

Read more: Famous French cathedral erupts into flames as onlookers share videos of smoke billowing into the sky

Veronika Mike voluntarily cleaned an area near her
Veronika Mike voluntarily cleaned an area near her. Picture: GoFundMe

The letter from the council read: "This is being issued to you as you failed in your legal duty to transfer controlled waste to an authorised person.

"Evidence has been obtained that the items in the picture provided originated from your home address."

It added: "The allegation is not that you placed the waste at the location, but that you failed in your legal duty when transferring household items.

"It is the legal duty of domestic households to ensure the transfer of waste to authorised persons to stop flying tipping."

Despite reaching out to the council to dispute the fines, the couple were unable to get them cancelled or reduced.

Mr Pinter paid the full fixed fine while Ms Mike is paying £100 in monthly instalments.

The affected garbage area still looks the same, Ms Mike said
The affected garbage area still looks the same, Ms Mike said. Picture: GoFundMe

Following the fine, the pair vowed to never clean their streets again "even if the rats come".

But they have since received an outpouring of support online after setting up a GoFundMe.

As of Thursday afternoon, the fundraiser had surpassed £1,800, despite the target being £1,200.

In an update on Thursday, Ms Mike said: "We can't say enough how much we appreciate your support!"

She added: "I said that I couldn't volunteer to clean again. But you gave me hope!

"A bad experience from decision-makers does not mean that those who can do something should stop.

"I will continue to work so that the environment continues to beautify.

"Zoltan couldn't believe how many people showed their spiritual and financial support.

"It was a very nice and incredible gesture!"

The pair were fined £600 each
The pair were fined £600 each. Picture: GoFundMe

City councillor Amjid Wazir said the matter was considered resolved.

“We remind residents and businesses that fly-tipping is an offence and all perpetrators will be met with a fixed penalty notice,” he said.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Chinese tourist village slammed for using fake snow to draw in visitors

Former Chief Whip Simon Hart has revealed details of a call from a Tory MP who asked to be saved from a brothel.

Former Chief Whip shares desperate call from Tory MP who 'needed saving from brothel with KGB agent and CCTV'

Tesco app and website.

Tesco app and website reporting issues, leaving customers unable to do online shopping

Exclusive
A graphic depiction of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, the two documentary makers behind the project are now facing criticism over the children featured.

BBC has 'serious questions to answer' over claims Gaza documentary features Hamas leader's son, says Jon Sopel

Charlotte Peet has gone missing in Brazil.

Father of Brit journalist missing in Brazil breaks silence as he reveals moment daughter's 'trail went cold'

Avoriaz is a French mountain resort

Brit skier, 23, found dead beneath French Alps cliff after 'plunging 260ft on return from night out'

Austrian police arrest teenager over 'attack at railway station'

Isis supporting boy, 14, 'who planned attack at railway station' held by Austrian police

Janice Nix, 66, was charged with manslaughter in connection with death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard in 1978

Woman, 66, appears in court charged with manslaughter of five-year-old who died after scalding bath

Davi Nunes Moreira, of Planalto, Brazil, passed away seven days after injecting a solution made from a crushed butterfly into his leg.

Boy who injected himself with crushed butterfly for 'online challenge' suffered week of agonising symptoms before death

Jack Bennett pleaded guilty to sending malicious communications to the mayor of London and the Birmingham Yardley MP

Man jailed for sending malicious messages to Sir Sadiq Khan and Jess Phillips was 'radicalised online,' Mayor tells LBC

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the stabbing of a 20-year-old man in Hackney.

Two men arrested on suspicion of murder after 20-year-old dies in east London stabbing

Near-Earth asteroid, artwork

NASA scientist increase chance of 'city killer' asteroid 'the size of Big Ben' striking earth

The scene in Godstone after a sinkhole appeared on Monday night. The large sinkhole has forced the closure of the high street in the Surrey village.

Major incident declared after second sinkhole opens up on residential Surrey street

Exclusive
Sadiq Khan

'It's bonkers': Sadiq Khan hits out at Trump for 'rewarding' Putin while excluding Ukraine from peace talks

The mother of Lindsay Foreman, left, who is being detained in Iran for alleged espionage, says the charges are made up.

Mother of Brit detained in Iran during round-the-world motorbike trip says espionage charges are 'made up'

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Trump is living in a ‘disinformation space’, says Zelenskyy as he hits back at US for ‘helping’ Putin 'come out of isolation'