The Lincolnshire-based man was originally ordered to pay £8,317.02 after being sentenced for a waste crime in 2021.
However, the Environment Agency (EA) re-opened an inquiry into his finances and discovered he had undeclared assets.
In February this year Lincoln crown court ordered him to pay an additional £278,492.92 in light of a property that he had not declared at the time of his sentencing. The original fine was calculated under the belief that he had limited means.
He was given three months to pay the remainder or serve five years imprisonment – and was ordered to make a £1,500 contribution towards the EA’s costs.
The 54-year-old was originally taken to court for storing and burning waste illegally at a site in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, despite repeated warnings from the EA.
Numerous fridges had been found at the site which are classed as hazardous waste and require specialist disposal.
Peter Stark, the EA’s enforcement team leader, said: “Waste criminals should be aware how seriously we take their offending, including the benefit they obtain from their illegal activities. They won’t get away with concealing information or their assets, and due to the EA’s hard work, justice was served.”
Original waste crime investigation
During the initial investigation, EA officers visited the Holbeach site on six occasions and told the man verbally and in writing to stop bringing waste to the site and burning it. However, on returning to the site, the officers found that the activity had not ceased.
The waste found on site included household waste, furniture, mattresses, clothing, paint cans, toilets, televisions and numerous fridges.
Neighbours had complained due to the smoke generated by the waste he had been burning.
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