Following an investigation by the Environment Agency, two men have been sentenced for allowing the operation of an illegal waste site on their land in rural Lincolnshire, and doing nothing to prevent it.
The landowners of the illegal waste site on Fen Lane, Long Bennington, were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 16 December.
Marc Greenfield (46) was sentenced to 19 months in prison, and James Baggaley (39) was sentenced to 20 months in prison, both suspended for 18 months. They have also been ordered to remove the waste from their land by September 2025, at an estimated cost of £2.5 million.
They are the latest defendants to be sentenced in the case, bringing the total so far to 11 people, including three family members who controlled the illegal waste site.
Sentencing the two landowners, His Honour Judge Coupland found that their offending was deliberate: they both lied to residents and tried to conceal the activity, while Greenfield also lied to investigators. The judge found that the highest level of harm had been caused, with the site changing from a grassed area to a ‘smoking wasteland’ which put nearby residents at harm from toxic fumes.
The investigation, named Operation Lord, saw Environment Agency officers spend months building a picture of evidence of the illegal waste site. Intelligence 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 conducted a raid on the site in April 2020 with Lincolnshire Police. Two arrests were made, and they seized an excavator and a lorry which were actively depositing more waste at the site when officers arrived.
Leigh Edlin, Area Director for Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, said: “This was a serious illegal waste site which was highly organised and involved multiple offenders. Those involved sought to profit from Covid restrictions at the cost of the environment and by inflicting misery on the local community. The site and its operators had a major impact on legitimate businesses and our regulatory work.
“Our enforcement teams will continue to tackle serious illegal waste crime by working with partners such as Lincolnshire Police, fire services and councils, as we did in this case to hold those responsible to account.”
South Kesteven District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, Cllr Rhys Baker, said: “The council is delighted with the outcome of this case, which sends a clear message that this kind of activity will not be tolerated and there are significant consequences for those who choose to act in this way.
“Our officers worked in partnership with the Environment Agency and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, visiting the site regularly in order to monitor the local impact and help gather evidence.
“This should serve as a firm warning to anyone who thinks they are above the law when it comes to waste disposal. The sentences are a suitable punishment for the misery caused to local residents.”
The findings of the investigation led to 12 people and one company being charged, of which 10 pleaded guilty. Following an eight-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court which concluded on 28 June 2024, the remaining three defendants were found guilty.
Nine defendants were sentenced on 18 October at Nottingham Crown Court. The Canner family trio of father Paul (53), mother Judith (55) of Main Road, Bilstone, Nuneaton and son Joshua (29) of Laburnum Avenue, Newbold Verdon, ran the illegal waste site. Paul Canner was sentenced to 26 months in prison, while Judith and Joshua were each sentenced to 16 months.
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.
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