Mother of Britain's Got Talent winner cleared of fly-tipping fan mail » Local Government » 24dash.com

The mother of Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson was cleared today of fly-tipping.

Lesley Sampson, 40, was accused of ditching rubbish, which included dance star George's fan mail.

But the prosecuting authority Warrington Borough Council offered no evidence after two days of legal wrangling at Chester Crown Court.

Bags were discovered behind the mother-of-five's home in Lyster Close, Birchwood, Warrington, containing a fan letter to George and correspondence to his sister.

But Ms Sampson insisted she had no idea how the bags were dumped there or who did it because she had moved to London as her son's career took off.

George, 16, shot to fame when he won the ITV talent show in 2008.

His mother was originally charged in January 2009.

Today's hearing was the culmination in a series of "lamentable failures" by both the prosecution and defence sides who regularly failed to fulfil legal deadlines, said Judge Ian Trigger.

The local authority offered no evidence after Judge Trigger ruled it could not alter the way the flytipping charge was brought.

Speaking after the case, which in total cost several thousand pounds, Ms Sampson said: "I am delighted this case is finally over.

"It has never been about fan mail.

"Among the bags of rubbish were a number of letters to various members of the family.

"Two or three were addressed to my son George.

"George keeps and treasures every fan letter he receives.

"I can only assume those letters have been taken from my property by persons unknown while it was empty and being renovated.

"I have at no point in time dumped any rubbish outside my property and neither has anybody else on my behalf.

"I would add that the area outside my property is used as a dumping ground and, prior to being prosecuted for this matter, I had myself made several complaints."

Ms Sampson described the court case as an "eye-opener" and said her teenage son had offered to attend today to support her.

She also condemned the "waste" of taxpayers' money, saying it would be a significant sum as the prosecution had wanted £9,500 from her if they won.