Wed, 13 Nov 2013
Raymond Shepherd, who ran Albert Hill Skip Hire in Darlington, has been found guilty of operating a regulated facility without a permit, failing to comply with a suspension notice imposed by the Environment Agency and two counts of unlawfully depositing controlled waste.
His brother, Paul Shepherd, a director at the company, was also found guilty of operating a regulated facility without a permit.
A site in Dodsworth Street, Albert Hill, where the firm previously operated from, is said to be full of stockpiled waste including uncovered asbestos sheeting. Two other sites belonging to the Shepherd family were also used illegally as landfill sites.
The pair denied all charges, but after considering the evidence the jury at Teesside Crown Court found them guilty.
David Edwardson, environmental crime team leader, said: "Their operations were carried out in the interests of profit, unfortunately at the expense of the environment. By not complying with waste regulations, the company also undermined legitimate businesses.”
The verdict was welcomed by the Environment Agency.
The Shepherd brothers were granted bail, and were sentenced yesterday, 12 December. Raymond Shepherd has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, his brother Paul was given a six-month suspended jail term with supervision. Raymond Shepherd's nephew, Jack, was fined £350 for allowing plasterboard to be dumped at the family's farm.
Please click here to read the article as reported by the Northern Echo. A further article that was published following sentencing can be found here.
Please click here to view the profile for James Doyle, defending Raymond Shepherd.
