THREE men found guilty of dumping more than 26,000 tonnes of waste in Lichfield and at other sites across the country have been sentenced.
It came after environmental health officers from Lichfield District Council visited the former GKN site at Crossfield Road Industrial Estate following a tip-off.
They found the site had been broken into and the buildings were in the process of being filled with lorry loads of rubbish, but those responsible fled.
Intelligence then linked the gang to similar incidents across the country, with an Environment Agency investigation launched after the council’s discovery in Lichfield.
It found that genuine waste facilities had been offered the chance to dispose of baled rubbish at a reduced price by the gang who then broke into or leased locations under false pretences to dump the rubbish.
The three men in their 50s were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court last month:
- Marcus Hughes was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and disqualified from acting as a company director for ten years. Hughes is already in prison and this will be added to his sentence.
- Robert McDonagh was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and disqualified from acting as a company director for ten years. He was ordered to pay a total of £40,000 to four victims, given a 30 day rehabilitation order and three-month curfew order.
- Richard Hopkinson was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment suspended for two years. He was ordered to pay £25,000 to one victim, given a 30 day rehabilitation order and 180 hour community order.
Lichfield District Council’s cabinet member Cllr Alex Farrell said:
“I’m delighted the gang members behind this have been found guilty.
“We will continue to pursue fly-tippers, and work with other councils, the Environment Agency, and the police to see them brought to justice.”
