R v S Environment Agency Prosecution at Woolwich Crown Court – 2023

The site in fact caught fire, resulting in the fire brigade attending the site for several days to douse the flames. An expert witness for the Prosecution provided evidence that the dangerous scope of the waste at the facility left the entire local area at serious risk of flooding, to the extent that the whole locality would have been subject to evacuation as a result of any flood. It was suggested that our client broke the law for significant financial gain and the case drew the attention of the national media

Following negotiations between the defence and EA, the EA agreed to withdraw a separate count relating to the illegal depositing of waste and the client thereby avoided a fine upon conviction of upwards of £10,000. The client entered a guilty plea to the count in relation to running an unlicenced waste treatment facility, to which he had previously made admissions of, leaving him subject to a potential custodial sentence of up to 2 years.

The defence obtained and were able to deploy, notable evidence reflecting personal mitigation and other evidence in mitigation surrounding the offending behaviour. Upon sentence the Court were persuaded to impose an 8-month Suspended Sentence and also notably, not to impose any financial remediation, compensation or financial penalty at all.

Paul Renteurs of 2 Hare Court was instructed Counsel.