Directors given suspended prison sentences for illegal waste activities

Directors of two companies have been given suspended prison sentences for abandoning nearly 2,000 tonnes of waste in Dudley.

Kevin Allan from Rowanoak Waste Services and Brian McIntosh from Mak Waste were sentenced after an Environment Agency investigation and a jury trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Randle Hawkins was found guilty of deliberately failing to comply with a revocation notice and was ordered to complete 100 hours’ unpaid work.

The site at Shaw Road caused significant problems to neighbours, with “stomach churning” smells as well as dust and debris coming from the site.

The Environment Agency said: “Allan, McIntosh and Hawkins have shown a complete disregard for the local community, subjecting local businesses to months of misery by illegally and inappropriately storing large quantities of waste on the site.

“Waste crime is a serious offence with tough penalties. It can damage the environment, blight local communities and undermine those who operate legally.”

Environment Agency officers worked with the new landowners and the waste was removed in March 2018.