Waste dumping trial 'a sign' not to break rules

A recent prosecution over ten-of-thousands of tonnes of waste being illegally dumped waste is a signal the Environment Agency will not let people get away with "ignoring the rules", officials say.

Paul Stephens, 58, as director of Park Lane Financial Management Limited, deposited at least 25,000 tonnes of waste on land in Hendra Croft, Scotland Road, in Cornwall, Truro Crown Court heard.

He was sentenced to 13 months in prison, suspended for two years; and Park Lane was fined a total of £90,000.

Tim De Winton, from the EA, said the verdict was "a signal to illegal businesses – we will not let you get away with ignoring the rules which protect people, the environment and legitimate business".

The waste, which included mattresses, electric waste and asbestos, was considered likely to cause pollution to the environment and harm human health, the EA said.

It added officers on a site visit in 2023 observed a pile of waste 30m (100ft) in length, including household waste in bin bags, stored on bare earth.

This meant polluting substances could drain directly into the earth and enter the water table.

As part of the investigation, contractors carried out a survey to excavate parts of the site, identifying large quantities of buried construction and demolition waste including plastics, wood and metal.

The EA said Park Lane pleaded guilty to three environmental offences committed between November 2018 and July 2025, two for operating of an illegal waste site, and one for the burning of waste.

Paul Stephens, who lives in Cumnor, Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty to the illegal deposit of waste and the burning of waste.

As well as the suspended sentence handed down during a hearing on Tuesday, Stephens was also issued with a curfew from 19:00 to 7:00 for four months, and 180 hours of unpaid work.

He was also disqualified from operation as a director for four years and ordered to clean up the waste from the site within 12 months.

The prosecution requested three other counts should lie on file.

Waste Minister Emma Hardy said: "This is an outrageous case of illegal dumping, orchestrated by an individual who had no regard for the local community in Cornwall.

"This verdict sends a clear message to criminals that they have nowhere to hide."

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