Unlicensed County Durham waste disposal operator ignored warnings

During an investigation by the Environment Agency, land owned by Lawrence Crossling, off Salters Lane, Shotton Colliery, was said to have been found “carpeted in waste”.

The 41-year-old defendant, of Sevenacres Farm, Shotton Colliery, appeared at Durham Crown Court for sentencing yesterday (Wednesday, May 8).

He previously admitted two charges brought by the agency, relating to operating an illegal waste site and burning waste.

He was fined £800 for the environmental breaches and was ordered to pay a statutory court surcharge of £80.

But he was also fined £50 as the conviction put him in breach of a previous suspended sentence order, for an unrelated offence.

Judge Jo Kidd gave the defendant a year to pay the fine or risk 28 days in prison, in default.

Holly Clegg, prosecuting, said officials from Durham County Council saw a fire burning in a compound at Salters Lane during a visit to the site on May 17, 2022.

Among the material that was alight was dumped plastics, furniture, metal, wood, and a boxing bag, with evidence apparent of previous fires in that area.

Despite warnings over such activities being given to what appeared to be the most senior male at the site, a return visit was made on January 17, 2023, jointly with officers from the Environment Agency, plus and Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.

Miss Clegg said the ground was covered in waste, most of which had been reduced to ash.

There was a fire burning, and piles of waste included demolition and construction waste, plus metal waste such as a fridge freezer, washing machines, a shopping trolley and bathtub.

In May 2023 agency officers issued letters which included instructions to clear the site of all waste by June 9, and a request was made to Crossling to attend for an interview.

The officers met Crossling at the compound, on June 14, last year, when the site was still covered in waste.

Crossling was again told he could not carry out waste activities on the land.

He was interviewed the following month and admitted having hardcore material delivered to address flooding issues.

The defendant said he and his sons collected scrap which was deposited and burned on the land.

He also said he allowed others to deposit scrap at the compound and said he had no paperwork for any of the transactions.

Miss Clegg told the court: “He was given multiple warnings to stop storing and burning waste in the site.

“It continued after he was interviewed and the fact it continued was indicative of his attitude.”

Miss Clegg added that the burning would have had minor local effects on air quality in the area.

The court heard Crossling has 24 past convictions for 55 offences, for offending ranging from violence, to fraud, aggressive trading practices, acquisitive crime and weapons offences.

He was also previously made subject of a criminal behaviour order over the way he conducted his business activities.

Calum McNicholas, for Crossling, said it had to be questioned whether the breaches of environmental regulations were, “deliberate or negligent”.

Mr McNicholas said the defendant denied being present when the officers made some of their visits.

He told the court that on the defendant’s instructions, the father-of-six children all aged under 18, earns about £200 per week on average.

Mr McNicholas said the defendant was self-employed, selling horse paraphernalia and trading in items obtained through his, “rag and bone man-type situation.”

Judge Jo Kidd said there had to be some “deterrent” effect for allowing the situation to carry on so long, but she did not order him to pay any of the agency’s costs of £4,289 in bringing the case.

Speaking after the hearing, Gary Wallace, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in the North East, said: “Our officers witnessed Crossling’s land carpeted with waste, with evidence of multiple fires, showing a complete disregard for the law.

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“Waste crime has a terrible impact on the community and environment as well as undermining legitimate businesses.

“We worked hard with our partners to ensure Crossling was brought before the court for his actions and hopefully this prosecution sends out a message to others that we will not tolerate waste crime in our communities.”

He added that waste crime can be reported to the agency on it’s 24-hour hotline on (0800) 807060.