Gang who made £500,000 from illegal tip filled Lincolnshire village with ‘toxic fumes’

His Honor Judge Coupland said the offending caused harm of the “highest order” and convicted the defendants of putting the premises at risk of toxic fumes.

He found the offenses had been “deliberately concealed” through the use of forged documents and said their repeated nature, together with the financial gain obtained, were aggravating factors.

Leigh Edlin, Area Manager for the Environment Agency for Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, said: “This was a serious illegal waste site which was highly organized and involved multiple offenders.

“Those involved sought to benefit from the Covid restrictions at the expense of the environment and inflict misery on the local community.

“The site and its operators had a significant 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, the fire services and councils, as we did in this case to hold those responsible to account.”

The Canner family trio of father Paul, 53, mother Judith, 55, and son Joshua, 29, who ran the illegal waste site, were sentenced to 26 months, 16 months and 16 months respectively.

Sonia Surpal, 52, and Luke Woodward, 37, who pleaded guilty to depositing waste at the site, were jailed for 13 and 11 months.

Peter Wainwright, 32, and Nathan Jones, 43, were jailed for 16 months for disposing of the waste at the site.

Marcus Chapman, 39, and Daniel Lippitt, 55, are given suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months respectively.

Landowners James Baggaley, 38, and Marc Greenfield, 46, who both “knowingly permitted the operation of the illegal waste site”, will be sentenced on 16 December.

Robert Malone, 41, and Fletcher Plant Limited, who were found guilty of breaching a waste duty of care, will be sentenced at a later date.