Gang who made £500,000 from illegal tip-off filling Lincolnshire village with ‘toxic fumes’

His honorary judge Coupland said the offense caused damage at the “highest level” and condemned the defendants for endangering locals through toxic fumes.

He believed the offenses were ‘deliberately concealed’ through the use of forged paperwork and said their repeated nature, in addition to the financial gain obtained, were aggravating factors.

Leigh Edlin, Environment Agency area director for Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, said: “This was a serious illegal waste dump that was well organised, involving multiple offenders.

“Those involved sought to take advantage of Covid restrictions at the expense of the environment and by causing misery to 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 have done in this case to hold those responsible to account.”

The Canner family trio, consisting of father Paul, 53, mother Judith, 55, and son Joshua, 29, who ran the illegal waste dump, were sentenced to 26 months, 16 months and 16 months respectively.

Sonia Surpal, 52, and Luke Woodward, 37, who pleaded guilty to depositing waste at the site, were sentenced to 13 and 11 months in prison.

Peter Wainwright, 32, and Nathan Jones, 43, were both sentenced to 16 months in prison for dumping the waste at the site.

Marcus Chapman, 39, and Daniel Lippitt, 55, were given suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months respectively.

Landowners James Baggaley, 38, and Marc Greenfield, 46, who both “knowingly permitted the operation of the illegal waste dump,” will be sentenced on December 16.

Robert Malone, 41, and Fletcher Plant Limited, who were found guilty of failing to comply with the waste care duty, will both be sentenced at a later date.