RUBBISH PROBE Crystal Palace star’s rubbish was fly tipped outside my flat – I was furious & reported him to club

A PREMIER League star’s domestic rubbish was dumped illegally outside an apartment block.

Posted Saturday, December 14, 2024 by Thesun.co.uk

Furious residents contacted Crystal Palace to report Jefferson Lerma for fly-tipping.

Crystal Palace's Jefferson Lerma has been reported for fly-tipping

The garbage included broken toys, full carrier bags and dozens of opened parcels and boxes bearing Lerma's address

The club investigated and discovered that the Colombian midfielder, 30, had paid for a "legitimate waste disposal service" to dispose of the trash "in good faith".

The rubbish was strewn across the front of garages behind flats in Streatham, South London — nine miles from Lerma's home.

Grainy CCTV images show men arriving in cars with fake number plates to dump the trash.

The garbage included broken toys, full carrier bags and dozens of opened parcels and boxes bearing Lerma's address.

Recent windy weather spread the rubbish further.

Heidi Vella, who lives in the flats, said: "Fly-tipping is illegal and a social blight and so it was a real shock to the residents here to see a Premier League footballer's rubbish dumped on our property.

"A quick look showed it was Jefferson Lerma's domestic rubbish. Now we want to pursue the 'man with a van' so he is dealt with by law."

Lerma signed for Bournemouth for £25million in 2018 and joined Palace on a free transfer last year.

The club said: "When this matter was drawn to our attention, we immediately arranged for the rubbish to be collected and disposed of correctly.

"We apologise for any inconvenience."

Heidi Vella, who lives in the flats, said: 'Fly-tipping is illegal and a social blight and so it was a real shock to the residents here to see a Premier League footballer's rubbish dumped on our property'