The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a landowner who was ordered to pay a total of £6,100.

Mark Oulton the owner of Doddlespool farm, of Betley, Crewe was fined £2,500, ordered to pay costs of £3,430 and a £170 victim surcharge after 1800 tonnes of baled waste were illegally deposited on his farm and he failed to take action to reduce the risk to the environment.

The Environment Agency brought the case against Mr Oulton after a lengthy investigation.

The investigation identified that significant amounts of waste were brought on to the farm, which did not have an environmental permit.

The Environment Agency identified that the 1800 bales of illegal waste, each weighing approximately one tonne, contained mixed household, commercial and industrial waste.

Officers reported a strong odour of rotting waste in the area and describe seeing rats around the waste deposits.

The Environment Agency served Mr Oulton with a notice under environmental legislation.

The notice required the clearance of some of the waste and for the largest stockpile, which is approximately 250m long to be broken up with 6m ‘fire breaks’ every 25m.

Mr Oulton failed to take action to comply with either of these requirements.

Tracey Rimmer, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said: “Unfortunately, some people fail to operate within set Environment Agency regulations. These operators create a completely unacceptable risk to local people.

"This case along with others this year demonstrates that we are clamping down on illegal activity. When operators fail to keep within the law, as Mr Oulton has, we take direct action to prosecute to protect communities and the environment. We would like to remind all landowners that they may be required to clear waste which has been deposited illegally at their own expense, and may also be prosecuted if they fail to do so.

"If you have any suspicions that waste is being deposited on your land please contact the Environment Agency or the police as soon as possible.”

In mitigation Mr Oulton told the court that he had intended to purchase bailed hay but later found that the bails contained general waste, he has since been unable to identify the individuals responsible for making the deposits to the Environment Agency.

After being sentenced the court reminded Mr Oulton that it would be in his best interests to clear the waste, as the Environment Agency may take further action against him if he did not.

Cllr. Trevor Johnson, Cabinet member for environment and recycling at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: “The Council has received numerous complaints about this site and we welcome the fact the Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted.

“We are liaising with residents and also working closely with our partners to determine the best way for this waste to be removed from the site whilst minimising the potential for further nuisance being caused to those living in the area.”

If you see waste crime report it by calling our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Waste crime can cause serious pollution to the environment put communities at risk and undermines legitimate business and the investment and economic growth that go with it. You can call the Environment Agency on 0370 850 6506 to find out how to responsibly manage any waste your business produces or visit www.gov.uk/managing-your-waste-an-overview/overview.