Thursday 3 October 2024
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Nottingham

13 prosecuted for operating illegal waste site near Newark

The findings of the investigation, named Operation Lord, led to 10 defendants pleading guilty. Following an 8 week trial at Nottingham Crown Court which concluded today, 3 defendants who had pleaded not guilty were found guilty. 

Operation Lord saw Environment Agency officers spend months building a picture of evidence of the illegal waste site on Fen Lane, Long Bennington. A raid on the site was then conducted in April 2020 with Lincolnshire Police.

Intelligence had revealed lorry-loads of shredded waste were regularly being accepted onto the site the size of a football pitch. Waste was burned daily and buried. This activity intensified during the first Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020, and so action was taken to bring it to a halt.

Environment Agency officers also seized an excavator and a lorry which were actively depositing more waste at the site when officers arrived. 2 arrests were made.

The prosecution was brought against individuals that ran the illegal waste site; burned the waste; drove waste to the site and the landowners. 2 waste brokers were also prosecuted.

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A sentencing for all defendants will be scheduled for a later date.

Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity is reminded to report it to our 24-hour hotline. Call 0800 80 70 60, or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Notes to Editors

  • The 3 defendants on trial who pleaded not guilty, but were found guilty were:
  • James Baggaley, aged 38 from Foston, Lincolnshire, found guilty of 1) knowingly permitting the deposit of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020, and 2) knowingly permitting the operation of the illegal waste site between 1 October and 14 April 2022.
  • Robert Malone, aged 41 from Clitheroe, the sole director of NWR 2004 Limited, found guilty of failing to comply with the waste duty of care between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • Fletcher Plant Limited found guilty of failing to comply with the waste duty of care between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • The 10 defendants who pleaded guilty are:
  • Paul Canner, aged 53 from Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to 1) knowingly causing the deposit of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020, and 2) knowingly causing the operation of the illegal waste site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • Judith Canner, aged 54 from Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to knowingly causing the deposit of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • Joshua Canner, aged 29 from Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to knowingly causing the deposit of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • Marc Greenfield, aged 46 from Brough, pleaded guilty to knowingly permitting the operation of the illegal waste site between 1 October 2019 and 14 April 2022.
  • Sonial Surpal, aged 52 from Coventry, pleaded guilty to depositing waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • Luke Woodward, aged 37 from Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to depositing waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • Marcus Chapman, aged 38 from Mansfield, pleaded guilty to disposing of the waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • Peter Wainwright, aged 32 from Atherstone, Warwickshire pleaded guilty to disposing of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • Nathan Jones, aged 43 from Mansfield, pleaded guilty to disposing of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
  • Daniel Lippitt, aged 54 from Leicester, pleaded guilty to depositing waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.

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