Men who used tipper trucks to dump waste sentenced

Four men have been sentenced over illegally dumping waste at six sites across London after an investigation by the Environment Agency (EA).

CCTV footage shows the men breaking into the areas and directing tipper trucks loaded with rubbish for dumping while trying to hide their faces.

Patrick Doherty was jailed for 28 months and Martin Ward was jailed for 18 months. Michael Ward, also known as Martin McCann, and Simon O'Donnell each received 14-month prison sentences suspended for two years.

All four were found guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of conspiracy to illegally dump controlled waste following a pattern of offending that spanned a year.

The criminal operation involved repeatedly dumping rubbish such as tyres and waste from house clearances and construction at different sites over a year, the EA said.

As part of its investigation, the agency obtained CCTV footage showing the men interfering with CCTV cameras, frequently hiding their own faces, and removing or covering vehicle registration plates.

Waste crime in the UK has escalated in recent years, with high-profile illegal tips provoking public outrage, including the 150-metre-long dump near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire and a 30,000-tonne heap in the protected area of Hoads Wood in Kent.

Officials have also warned that around a fifth of all rubbish is illegally managed, with gangs behind it becoming increasingly sophisticated.

The government has since responded with a "zero-tolerance" new action plan to tackle the £1bn problem.

Matt Higginson, environment manager for the EA, said: "I would urge anyone who suspects illegal waste activity to report it anonymously so we can tackle these crimes head on."

Under the plans, the EA will step up enforcement and intervene earlier, backed by an additional £45m from the government over the next three years.

The agency plans to make greater use of powers that can shut down an illegal waste operation immediately, with up to 51 weeks in prison for an operator who ignores the restriction.

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