Following an investigation by the Environment Agency, two men have been sentenced for allowing the operation of an illegal waste site on their land in rural Lincolnshire, and doing nothing to prevent it.
The landowners of the illegal waste site on Fen Lane, Long Bennington, were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 16 December.
Marc Greenfield (46) was sentenced to 19 months in prison, and James Baggaley (39) was sentenced to 20 months in prison, both suspended for 18 months. They have also been ordered to remove the waste from their land by September 2025, at an estimated cost of £2.5 million.
They are the latest defendants to be sentenced in the case, bringing the total so far to 11 people, including three family members who controlled the illegal waste site.
Sentencing the two landowners, His Honour Judge Coupland found that their offending was deliberate they both lied to residents and tried to conceal the activity, while Greenfield also lied to investigators. The judge found that the highest level of harm had been caused, with the site changing from a grassed area to a ‘smoking wasteland’ which put nearby residents at harm from toxic fumes.
Smoke from burning waste at the site, with residential properties nearby.
The investigation, named Operation Lord, saw Environment Agency officers spend months building a picture of evidence of the illegal waste site. Intelligence revealed lorry-loads of shredded waste were regularly being accepted onto the site the size of a football pitch. Waste was burned daily and buried. This activity intensified during the first Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020, and so action was taken to bring it to a halt.
Environment Agency officers conducted a raid on the site in April 2020 with Lincolnshire Police. Two arrests were made, and they seized an excavator and a lorry which were actively depositing more waste at the site when officers arrived.
Leigh Edlin, Area Director for Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, said
This was a serious illegal waste site which was highly organised and involved multiple offenders. Those involved sought to profit from Covid restrictions at the cost of the environment and by inflicting misery on the local community. The site and its operators had a major impact on legitimate businesses and our regulatory work.
Our enforcement teams will continue to tackle serious illegal waste crime by working with partners such as Lincolnshire Police, fire services and councils, as we did in this case to hold those responsible to account.
The findings of the investigation led to 12 people and one company being charged, of which 10 pleaded guilty. Following an eight-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court which concluded on 28 June 2024, the remaining three defendants were found guilty.
Nine defendants were sentenced on 18 October at Nottingham Crown Court. The Canner family trio of father Paul (53), mother Judith (55) of Main Road, Bilstone, Nuneaton and son Joshua (29) of Laburnum Avenue, Newbold Verdon, ran the illegal waste site. Paul Canner was sentenced to 26 months in prison, while Judith and Joshua were each sentenced to 16 months.
Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity is reminded to report it to our 24-hour hotline. Call 0800 80 70 60, or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Background information
Sentences issued to defendants on 16 December 2024
- James Baggaley, aged 39 of Back Lane, Foston, pleaded not guilty but was found guilty in June 2024 after a trial of 1) knowingly permitting the deposit of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020, and 2) knowingly permitting the operation of the illegal waste site between 1 October and 14 April 2022. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to a concurrent sentence of 20 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months. A Court Order requires him to remove all the waste from the land by September 2025.
- Marc Greenfield, aged 46 of Fosse Road, Brough, pleaded guilty to knowingly permitting the operation of the illegal waste site between 1 October 2019 and 14 April 2022. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 19 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. A Court Order requires him to remove all the waste from the land by September 2025.
- Every two months the landowners will be required to report to the Environment Agency on the progress they have made with removing waste from their site.
Sentences issued to defendants on 18 October 2024
- Paul Canner, aged 53 of Main Road, Bilstone, Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to 1) knowingly causing the deposit of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020, and 2) knowingly causing the operation of the illegal waste site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 26 months’ immediate imprisonment.
- Judith Canner, aged 55 of Main Road, Bilstone, Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to knowingly causing the deposit of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020. She was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 16 months’ immediate imprisonment.
- Joshua Canner, aged 29 of Laburnum Avenue, Newbold Verdon, pleaded guilty to knowingly causing the deposit of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 16 months’ immediate imprisonment.
- Sonial Surpal, aged 52 of Round House Road, Coventry, pleaded guilty to depositing waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 13 months’ immediate imprisonment.
- Luke Woodward, aged 37 of Willow Road, Nuneaton, pleaded guilty to depositing waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 11 months’ immediate imprisonment.
- Marcus Chapman, aged 39 of Egmanton Drive, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to disposing of the waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He has been ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.
- Peter Wainwright, aged 32 of Dexter Lane, Hurley, Atherstone, Warwickshire pleaded guilty to disposing of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 16 months’ immediate imprisonment.
- Nathan Jones, aged 43 of Carnation Road, Shirebrook, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to disposing of waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 16 months’ immediate imprisonment.
- Daniel Lippitt, aged 55 of Lubbersthorpe Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to depositing waste at the site between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 9 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He has been ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.
Proceeds of crime proceedings have commenced against all 13 defendants and the following two defendants will be sentenced at the outcome of those proceedings
- Robert Malone, aged 41 of Ribble Prospect, Clitheroe, the sole director of NWR 2004 Limited, pleaded not guilty but was found guilty in June 2024 after a trial of failing to comply with the waste duty of care between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
- Fletcher Plant Limited pleaded not guilty but was found guilty in June 2024 after a trial of failing to comply with the waste duty of care between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.
