A “persistent” waste criminal, currently in prison for waste offences, has been given another 22 weeks sentence for operating a waste facility without a permit.
Following a successful prosecution brought forward by the Environment Agency earlier this year, Mr John Bruce (aged 46) was sentenced to 26 months imprisonment for dumping approximately 26,000 tonnes of waste on at Ridgeway Park Farm, Throckmorton Airfield, Worcestershire. Mr Bruce was also found to be burying and burning hazardous waste at the site.
This week (4 September), Mr Bruce returned to court and pleaded guilty to carrying out illegal waste activities at Ridgeway Park Farm without an environmental permit and was handed a 22 week custodial sentence to run concurrently to his existing sentence.
“The additional custodial sentence signals the severity of the crimes committed and demonstrates support from the judicial system in the fight against waste crime.”
The case concerned illegal waste operations at Ridgeway Park Farm in January and February 2016. Bruce had accepted over 60 tonnes of redundant kitchen and bathroom materials onto his site. When Environment Agency officers visited the farm, they saw that in addition to these materials, flat pack furniture and packaging materials were being burnt on site.
In mitigation, the Judge noted that Bruce had pleaded guilty and therefore avoided the need for a full trial.
An Environment Agency officer in charge of the investigation said: “Mr Bruce has shown a blatant disregard for the environment and the local community by operating a large scale illegal waste site at his farm. His actions undermine legitimate businesses and dangers the wider local economy.
“The additional custodial sentence signals the severity of the crimes committed and demonstrates support from the judicial system in the fight against waste crime.”