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.
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
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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.
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Fletcher Plant Limited found guilty of failing to comply with the waste duty of care between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
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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.
