Suspended prison sentence and £3,000 fine for rogue Worksop waste operator

Gary Saunders, of Spitalfields, Blyth, Worksop, was given a 17-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months at Sheffield Magistrates Court.

He was also ordered to do 60 hours unpaid work and to pay costs of £3,000 plus a £154 victim’s surcharge.

Saunders pleaded guilty to running the site in Church Lane, Dinnington, between 2023-25.

The court was told that a member of the public initially contacted the Environment Agency. This prompted officers to visit the site on 20 June 2023, where large amounts of illegal waste were discovered when officers from the Environment Agency visited a business named 4 Counties Group.

It was discovered that the defendant was running a conservatory business from the site, as a sole trader. He leased the site from landowner Andrew Fisher.

Officers from the Environment Agency started to monitor the site and discovered that significant waste management issues continued.

Despite multiple visits and guidance letters, waste accumulation continued unabated.

When interviewed, Saunders, citing health challenges, acknowledged operating without permits and failed to comply with waste removal deadlines.

Eviction proceedings were started in February 2025 and the landlord took back full control of the site.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We welcome this outcome and will continue to work tirelessly to pursue and prosecute those involved in illegal waste activities.

 “Failure to comply with these legal requirements is a serious offence that can damage the environment and undermine legitimate businesses.

 “Anyone with suspicions of waste crime can call our incident hotline, 0800 807060, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.”