In a statement earlier today (17 January), the regulator explained that Mark James, of Fobbing Road, Corringham “ran an illegal waste site at an industrial estate at Chadwell St Mary near Tilbury between 9 December 2022 and 29 June 2023”.
The statement explained that EA officers “visited the site numerous times” between 9 December 2022 and 13 October 2023.
During visits, piles of waste comprised of brick rubble, soils, plastic, wood and metal were found, the agency said. Officers “provided advice and guidance to Mr James on a number of occasions both during this period and in preceding years. Despite this, they were forced to issue a statutory notice ordering him to clear up the site”.
However, Mr James “failed to clear his site and provide waste transfer notes in line with requirements set out in the statutory notice”. He was charged with carrying out a waste operation at the Bennett’s Industrial Estate site.
James pleaded guilty to the charges at a hearing at Colchester magistrates’ court on 8 November 2023. He returned to Basildon crown court on 12 January 2024 to be sentenced. He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment and told to pay a victim surcharge of £187, the EA said.
‘Commercial advantage’
East Anglia area enforcement team leader, Lesley Robertson, said: Despite the Environment Agency serving a notice on James to remove waste, he continued to deposit, store and treat waste illegally without an environmental permit.
“Mr James operated at a distinct commercial advantage, undermining legitimate business with little or no regard for the environment. By imposing this sentence HHJ Hurst demonstrated how seriously he viewed his activities and behaviour. We take illegal waste activity very seriously and will not hesitate to disrupt criminal activity and prosecute those responsible.”
Court
Prosecuting for the Environment Agency, the regulator explained that its solicitor advocate Sarah Dunne told the court that Mr James’ activities had allowed him to avoid the fees for lawful disposal. He had “undermined lawful competitors and caused significant interference with the legitimate activities of industrial estate users and business owners”.
The agency also included comments from His Honour Judge Andrew Hurst, who was reported to have said Mr James had “set your face against all efforts that the Environment Agency had expended on getting you to comply”. He described James as “defiant” and said he had shown “blatant contempt”.
He added: “What else could the Environment Agency do apart from rolling up their sleeves, getting some spades and shovels and doing it for you.”
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