Pair jailed over asbestos dumping
William Reidy, 59 was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on Monday to 16 months in prison for depositing asbestos waste.
Leonard Imeson, 61 was jailed for four months. Both men had pleaded guilty.
The court heard how they were paid to remove building waste from companies across Yorkshire, but boosted their profits by illegally dumping it.
A third man, Neil Medley, 45, of Parkland, Illkley, was given 100 hours community service after he pleaded guilty to two offences of falsifying documents.
During the case, prosecuting barrister Tahir Khan said the three men were working together in a demolition business run by Reidy, called Space Making Development (SMD).
Environment Agency officers investigated SMD's activities after they became aware of illegal tipping on council-owned land at Low Moor, Bradford and kept the site under surveillance.
Officers estimated that 200 lorry loads of demolition waste had been dumped illegally and the lorries were traced back to SMD.
The judge said the defendants were experienced in the demolition business, they knew that asbestos waste had to be dealt with carefully and yet had failed to do so despite a risk to public health.
Paul Salter, environmental crime officer at the Environment Agency, said: "This case shows that businesses cannot get away with putting profits before the environment and human health.
"Demolition contractors must take their responsibilities seriously because people will not put up with them blighting our towns and countryside."
|
Linear Mode
