The evidence found in the investigation led to 10 defendants pleading guilty. Following the eight-week trial at Nottingham crown court, the remaining defendants who pleased not guilty were found guilty.
Operation Lord was an investigation that spanned months and saw EA officers gather evidence that led to a Lincolnshire Police raid of the site on Fen Lane, Long Bennington in April 2020.
‘Intensifying’
Intelligence revealed that “lorry-loads” of shredded waste were “regularly” being accepted onto the site the size of a football pitch. EA said that waste was being burned daily and buried, intensifying during the first Covid lockdown, before it was brought to a halt.
Environment Agency officers also reportedly seized an excavator and a lorry, which were said to be “actively depositing more waste” at the site when officers arrived. Two arrests were made.
The prosecution was brought against those that ran the illegal waste site, burned the waste, drove waste to the site, as well as the landowners. Two waste brokers were also prosecuted.
Companies involved included NWR 2004 Limited and Fletcher Plant Limited. A sentencing for all defendants will be scheduled for a later date.
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