A MOTHER-of-two has hit out at a ‘money-making scheme’ after winning a lengthy court battle.

Lauren Pinhorne, of Picket Piece, was cleared of flytipping at Winchester Crown Court this week after a six-month legal wrangle with Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC).

The saga began when the authority discovered a pile of waste in Charlton Road on around February 12 last year.

Ms Pinhorne was confronted by an investigator from the authority who claimed she had dumped a plastic bag containing a flower card and an old diary at the side of the road.

But the 37-year-old said she believed that the card, which had her name written on it, could have been a Valentine’s Day gift from a former boyfriend that she never received, while the diary had gone missing from her home.

Ms Pinhorne, who was granted legal aid for the hearing, said she believed the council had spent thousands of pounds continuing with the case up to crown court, after she pleaded not guilty at magistrates court.

Speaking after the trial, she said: “I pursued it not only for me but for my children and the general public to prove that sometimes authorities can get it wrong and that justice works and has been done.

“I am furious that public funds have been wasted in this way, about twelve to eighteen thousand pounds, however, I was not willing to admit guilt on a crime I did not commit despite being categorically told by TVBC I was guilty and wasn’t getting away with it.”

She has also criticised the way that the investigation was carried out by the borough council.

“I’m also perplexed as to how two senior environmental officers and a litigator from TVBC did not investigate the case properly and how it has come to be on a national level that ‘looking after the environment’ has become a money making exercise for local authorities,” Ms Pinhorne added.

“I knew I had not done this, I clearly told them I had lost the diary but I was threatened with being arrested.

“Everything I have said has been true, so I brought it to crown court because it felt like I was being set up. None of the rubbish there was mine, I hadn’t dumped it, and they went for me anyway.”

Ms Pinhorne said her personal life was hauled before the court.

“Because they found my old diary, my personal life has been dragged through the court as well - diary entries about personal things were read out.”

Ms Pinhorne added: “Rather than remain bitter or despondent towards TVBC, my only message would be that I hope a lot has been learnt from this and that the stress I have been put through doesn’t mistakenly happen to another individual.”

A spokesman for the council said: “We took this to court following a thorough and comprehensive investigation and external counsel advice confirming that there was a case to answer. Although we are naturally disappointed with the result we, of course, respect the court’s decision. We are extremely proud of our record in tackling fly-tipping having been successful in securing a prosecution in 20 out of 21 cases since the start of 2018.

“The cost to the taxpayer of clearing up fly-tips and impact on communities is significant, which is why it is important the council continues to seek to prosecute those we believe have fly-tipped in order to discourage people from illegally dumping their waste in our beautiful borough.”