Man fined £850 for operating illegal waste site

Mr Lawrence Crossling was sentenced at Durham crown court on 8 May following a hearing where he pleaded guilty to the charge of operating an illegal waste site and a separate charge of burning waste. 

At the sentencing, Mr Crossling was fined £800 for operating an illegal waste site and £50 for breaching a suspected prison sentence for a previous unrelated offence. He was given a year to pay the fine and if he refused to comply would face 28 days in prison. 

Additionally, he was ordered to pay £80 as a victim surcharge. 

Case 

The court heard that officers from Durham county council had seen a fire burning at a compound in Salters Lane in May 2022. 

The Environment Agency, Durham council and Durham and Darlington fire and rescue service attended the site in January 2023. They reported that the ground was covered in waste that had been reduced to ashes. It also reported there was a fire at the time of their visit. 

In May 2023, the Environment agency reported that letters that included instructions to clear the site by 9 June 2023 were issued. 

The agency said that following the issuing of the letters on 14 June, its officers met with Mr Crossling at the compound and informed him that he was not to carry out any waste activities on the land. 

Mr Crossling was interviewed by the Agency in July 2023 and admitted to having “hardcore materials” delivered to address flooding issues. The Agency also reported that he said that he and his sons collected scrap that was deposited and burned on the site. 

According to the Environment Agency, Mr Crossling also allowed others to deposit scrap at the compound and had no paperwork. 

‘Impact’ 

Gary Wallace, area environment manager for the Environment Agency in the Northeast, said: “Our officers witnessed Mr Crossling’s land carpeted with waste with evidence of multiple fires, showing a complete disregard for the law. Waste crime has a terrible impact on the community and environment as well as undermining legitimate businesses. 

“We worked hard with our partners to ensure Mr Crossling was brought before the court for his actions and hopefully this prosecution sends out a message to others that we will not tolerate waste crime in our communities.”