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12/07/2024
Sam Jones prosecuted Devon landowner Christopher Garrett. This resulted in a 32-month imprisonment sentence handed down yesterday (11.7.24) at Exeter Crown Court for illegally dumping controlled waste.
After receiving a suspended sentence in 2016 for similar offenses. The Environment Agency launched a further investigation. They received information that Mr. Garrett continued his illegal waste activities on land he owned near Newton Abbot in Devon
Despite repeated warnings, Mr. Garrett continued to import large quantities of waste onto his land. This land was part of the designated floodplain in the area and included highly environmentally harmful asbestos
The investigation gathered evidence which established that Mr. Garrett had benefited from his offending in the sum of £2.88m. It ordered the recovery of all of his available assets, totalling over £200,000.
The Environment Agency considers Garrett the worst offender in Devon and Cornwall for illegally disposing of large quantities of asbestos.
In sentencing Devon landowner Mr. Garrett to 32 months’ imprisonment. The judge highlighted the ‘industrial scale environmental contamination’ he had caused
Following the hearing, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Garrett is a repeat offender who showed no care for the environment or human health. He took no notice of the previous warnings given by the courts and the Environment Agency and imported hazardous waste, burying it to make a quick profit“.
“We are extremely pleased that he has now been brought to book and are working with our partners to establish what will happen to the site going forward. We would like to remind everyone who produces, transports or disposes of waste that they have a duty of care to ensure it doesn’t end up at a site like this.”
Sam Jones directed the prosecution team under direct instruction from the Environment Agency.
You can read more about the case here
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