A MAN who illegally dumped 26,000 tonnes of waste on two sites in the Gwent Levels and ran an illegal waste facility, was jailed yesterday.

Stephen Brinley Richards appeared in Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing, having previously admitted four counts of illegally depositing controlled waste, one of illegally treating controlled waste, three of illegally keeping controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm to human health, one of disposing of controlled waste, and one of operating a regulated facility without a permit.

He also admitted carrying out operations on an SSSI – a site of special scientific interest.

His co-defendant, Anthony Holwell, was convicted of causing the illegal deposit of controlled waste, illegally treating controlled waste, illegally keeping controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution or harm to human health and two counts of illegally depositing controlled waste after a trial in October.

Both defendants were due to be sentenced last November, but Richards, 52, of Richmond Road, Roath, Cardiff, failed to surrender and was arrested only on Tuesday in the south of England.

The offences took place between January 1, 2006 and February 28, 2009, on land owned by Richards at Hawse Lane, Marshfield, and Ty Mawr Lane, Castleton, and Berry Hill Cottage, Coedkernew, where Holwell lived at the time of the offences.

Environment Agency Wales officers visited the sites, two of which are on the Gwent Levels, a number of times in 2008 and 2009, and found a total of 26,000 tonnes of controlled waste.

Representing Richards, Stephen Thomas said the defendant was in a desperate financial situation, at one time owing around £500,000 to the Inland Revenue, and the offences were initially a temporary measure, which soon got out of control.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said Richards’ conduct was “deliberate, brazen and arrogant in terms of flouting the law.”

Richards was sentenced to 15 months in prison, plus a consecutive three-month term for failing to surrender. Holwell was sentenced to 12 months in prison in March this year.