Court imposes over £100,00 in costs on ‘arrogant and bullish’ company director who ran an illegal waste site in Lincolnshire and verbally abused Environment Agency officers.
Matthew Berry, 46, and his company were issued with a £45,000 confiscation order, which represented the recovery of the proceeds from the crime.
Berry’s company SBR Foxhills Limited was also fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,626.35 and a £190 surcharge. Berry faces up to 12 months in prison if that sum remains unpaid after three months.
Berry also received a 36-week suspended prison sentence at Lincoln Crown Court. This is on condition that he abides by a curfew between 9 pm and 5 am for 3 months. He was also ordered to pay £5,000 in costs and a surcharge of £154.
In Spring 2021, Berry took over control of Thorpe Farm and began a clearance operation with a view to purchasing the site, which had no environmental permit or other authorisation to store or treat waste.
The Environment Agency said Berry agreed to move baled waste that had been stacked in a building on the site. However, the regulator said Berry abandoned the site leaving the baled waste exposed to the elements which caused it to degrade.
And we will not tolerate abuse or bad behaviour to our officers – everyone should be treated with respect.
Environment Agency officers visited the site and Berry told them that he intended to clear the area. Officers continued to try to work with him but their attempts were rejected.
On one occasion, the Environment Agency said Berry verbally berated a senior officer and told him that he hoped he got cancer and died.
In sentencing, Her Honour Judge Sjolin Knight told Berry that he had taken an ‘arrogant and bullish approach’. She said that he had run his business in such a way that he, ‘violated strict environmental laws that are there to protect the environment for everyone’.
Yvonne Daly, an environment manager for the Environment Agency in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, said: “Rogue contractors and operators in the waste sector should take note we will not tolerate illegal waste activities in Lincolnshire.
“We will take enforcement action to protect the environment, people and legitimate businesses. And we will not tolerate abuse or bad behaviour to our officers – everyone should be treated with respect.”
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