Two brothers and their father were ordered to pay over £50,000 by a judge after failing to comply with an environmental permit.
Between June 2015 and April 2017, the three men failed to comply with the terms of their environmental permit. Though the permit allowed for the processing of mixed waste, it required a fire prevention plan which was never properly implemented.
Inspections by the Environment Agency revealed that waste was being stacked too high and too closely together at the site, creating a fire risk.
The waste had also become a health risk following an influx of mice and a problem with flies, the Environment Agency said.
Once this was discovered, the regulator suspended the site’s permit. Despite this requiring the family to stop bringing new onto the site, between December 2015 and February 2016, they continued to operate.
On further visits, officers found that there were no firebreaks between the waste between March and May 2016.
The case shows that we’re not just content to prosecute those who run illegal waste sites…
In May 2023, Thomas and Jamie Todd were both sentenced to 8 months imprisonment and were disqualified from acting as a director of a business for 5 years.
Their father, Michael Todd was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order with 15 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also disqualified from acting as a company director for 5 years.
A Proceeds of Crime Act case has now been completed at Leeds Crown Court, which imposed a confiscation order of £1,128 on Michael Todd, 65. He was given 3 months to pay or face a 6-week prison sentence.
Thomas Todd, 36, was ordered to pay £30,144.74 within 6 weeks or face an 8-month sentence. His brother, Jamie Todd, 44, received an order for £19,336.87 within 3 months or face a 6 month period in prison.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency commented: “The case shows that we’re not just content to prosecute those who run illegal waste sites, we’ll also come after them to get back the profits they made from their illegal activities and to recoup taxpayers’ money spent on pursuing them.
“Waste crime can have a serious environmental impact which puts communities at risk and undermines legitimate business and the investment and economic growth that go with it.”
In 2023, a fourth man, Bryan Walker, 62, was prosecuted and given a 12-month community order with 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days. He was also disqualified from acting as a director of a business for 5 years.
