March man fined nearly £300,000 on top of fine for waste offences at Holbeach site

A convicted waste offender has been ordered to pay nearly £300,000 on top of his fine after an Environment Agency investigation found he had undeclared assets.

Simon Mason, 54, was handed a suspended prison sentence in 2021 for storing and burning waste illegally at a site in Holbeach despite repeated warnings from the agency.

But Mason, of St Johns Chase in March, was ordered to pay an additional £278,492.92 at a hearing on February 27 after his case was re-opened after the EA learned he owned a property which had not been declared at the time of his sentencing in 2021.

He was fined just £8,317 in 2021 because it was believed he had limited means.

During the latest hearing in Lincoln Magistrates Court, it was re-calculated that Mason benefited from his illegal waste activities by £286,809.94. He was given three months to pay the remainder or serve five years imprisonment, and was ordered to make a £1,500 contribution towards the Environment Agency's costs.

Peter Stark, Environment Agency Enforcement Team Leader, said: “Waste criminals should be aware how seriously we take their offending, including the benefit they obtain from their illegal activities. They won’t get away with concealing information or their assets, and due to the EA’s hard work, justice was served.”

During the initial investigation, EA officers visited the Holbeach site on six occasions and Mason verbally and in writing to stop bringing waste to the site and burning it.

However, on returning to the site, officers found more waste had been brought to the site and burned.

Waste observed at the site during the multiple visits included household waste, furniture, mattresses, clothing, paint cans, toilets, televisions and numerous fridges.

Some of the rubbish had been burned, prompting neighbours to complain about the smoke generated. Fridges are classed as hazardous waste and require specialist disposal.

Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity should report it to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060, or anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.