Jail Time And Director Disqualification For Illegal Waste Operation

This case illustrates the Environment Agency's willingness to prosecute individual directors as well as companies, and the Courts' readiness to send individuals to custody for serious environmental offences (particularly breaches committed where profit is an incentive)! With the ramifications so high, let's look at the facts.

County Durham based Albert Skip Hire was investigated by the Environment Agency for operating waste sites without permits and for stockpiling and dumping waste 'on an industrial scale', which included uncovered asbestos sheeting. The owners of the company illegally used farms as landfill sites and failed to comply with a Suspension Notice.

Raymond Shepherd was identified as 'the controlling mind' of the operation. He was jailed by Teesside Crown Court for 18 months, which reflected the fact that he had regularly flouted orders to cease the company's activities, with a view to increasing profit. This was the second prosecution for Raymond Shepherd and the company, both having been found guilty of similar offences last year.

Convictions were also handed out to:

Paul Shepherd, his brother - who was responsible for dumping asbestos on access roads to their business site and was sentenced to serve a 6 month...