A MAN has been jailed after ignoring repeated Environment Agency warnings to stop illegally importing and burning waste at two sites.
Shane Boutwell, 40, of Rivendell Vale, South Woodham Ferrers, has been sent to prison for 14 months.
He was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court for persistently importing and burning waste on a large scale at sites in Bradwell-on-Sea and Latchingdon.
Officers visited land at Bradwell Wick Leisure Plots in Maldon Road, Bradwell, in June 2020 after firefighters raised concerns following several fires there.
Large amounts of waste were found, including waste electricals, household waste and demolition waste.
Boutwell also owned a site at Lower Barn Farm, Lower Burnham Road, Latchingdon, which the police visited in September 2020.
They found burning waste with flames up to two metres high.
Environment Agency Officers identified large piles of soil heavily contaminated with bricks, concrete, paving slabs and plastics.
They were told by a fire officer the site was a “cause for concern”.
Her Honour Judge Loram QC told Boutwell the two sites were “professional operations for your own gain”.
She said: “The impact of your behaviour on others was profound.
“You affected legitimate businesses and encouraged others to sink to the bottom like you.”
The judge made an order for Boutwell to clean up both sites upon his release from prison and to return to court in September 2023 for consideration of claims for prosecution costs and the confiscation of the profits of his crimes.
Environment Agency enforcement team leader Lesley Robertson said: “In this case Boutwell was repeatedly instructed to remove waste from both sites and failed to do so.
“He operated at a commercial advantage, importing and burning waste on a significant scale, undermining legitimate business with little or no regard for the environment or residents.
“His sentence shows just how serious Judge Loram considered this to be.”
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Boutwell previously admitted to operating the two waste management facilities without a permit.
He also admitted disposing of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm to human health at both sites, and to failing to remove the waste from Bradwell Wick.
Anyone with suspicions of waste crime can call the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 807060 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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