12/01/2005 - At Neath
Magistrates Court yesterday (Tuesday) a
Swansea man was jailed for eight months
following his conviction for waste offences.
Mark Roberts of Graig Gellinudd, Pontardawe
pleaded guilty to five charges relating
to the illegal deposit and disposal of controlled
waste by burning, in a case brought by Environment
Agency Wales.
The offences are breaches of Section 33
and 34 of the Environmental Protection Act
11000.
Roberts was sentenced to four month's imprisonment
on this occasion. In June of last year he
was given a four-month prison sentence suspended
for two years after he had pleaded guilty
to seven charges relating to similar offences
in another prosecution brought by the Agency.
The Magistrates activated this four months
sentence and stipulated that it was to run
consecutively with the sentence for the
new offences giving a prison term of eight
months.
The Court was told that Agency Enforcement
Officers had carried out covert surveillance
of Roberts’ premises following numerous
complaints regarding the importation and
burning of wastes. Evidence gathered confirmed
that Roberts was transporting significant
amounts of waste, including household furniture,
window frames, wood, plastic, earth and
rubble back to his premises. The waste was
then illegally deposited with the combustible
material set alight causing plumes of black
smoke to be emitted. The whole operation
by Roberts appeared very well organised
and undertaken in a manner in which he gave
no thought to the local environment or neighbouring
properties, but only that of financial gain.
Speaking after the case Steve Brown, the
Agency's local Environment Manager said:
" We welcome the punishment given to
the defendant in this case who clearly had
no respect or regard to waste legislation
or the local environment. There is evidence
that illegal waste activity is increasing
and we will continue to take rigorous enforcement
action against those that break the law.
Today’s society should not have to tolerate
such anti social behaviour. This sentence
sends out a clear message to those considering
undertaking such activities."
