Between April and October 2018, large quantities of waste was deposited at two locations – a former railway yard in Kent known as the Bombardier site, and Upper Lodge Farm near Lewes.
Neither site had the necessary environmental permits for waste storage or treatment.
Illegal deposits in south England
An Environment Agency (EA) investigation found that a total of 1,534 bales, weighing 997.4 tonnes, had been dumped at the Bombardier site in Ashford, while a further 180 tonnes were deposited at Upper Lodge Farm in Ringmer.
Ashford is also home to the Hoad’s Wood waste crime site, where over 30,000 tonnes of household and construction waste was illegally dumped.
Analysis of the material revealed it consisted of non-recyclable builders’ waste and plastics, as well as items typically found in house clearances including mattresses, foam and artificial grass.
An EA spokesperson said: “Two men from East Sussex have been charged with knowingly causing the deposit of waste at two sites in Southern England.
“We will pursue and bring before the courts those involved in waste crime which seriously blights communities and the environment, no matter how long it takes.”
Court proceedings
At Lewes Crown Court on 7 October 2025, both men admitted to offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Clifford Wake pleaded guilty to two counts of knowingly causing the deposit of waste. One related to the Bombardier site in Kent and the other to Upper Lodge Farm.
He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.
Wake must also pay £1,000 in costs over 12 months, along with a victim surcharge.
Gary Wilmshurst, also known as George Stewart, pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly causing the deposit of waste at Upper Lodge Farm.
He received a 35-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to pay £500 in costs within six months, plus a victim surcharge.
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