A North Yorkshire man has received a suspended prison sentence for illegally depositing waste on the River Swale flood plain.
In 2017–2018, Phillip Taylor transported over 2,400 tonnes of excavation waste to the Catterick Complex without authorization, forming unauthorised flood defences for fishing lakes.
The downstream village of Catterick had benefited from a £6 million flood alleviation scheme. The EA regulates works near main rivers to prevent increased flood risk and habitat damage.
Taylor pleaded guilty to illegal waste activity and flood-risk works. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison (suspended for 12 months), ordered to remove the waste, pay £9,500 in costs, and a £115 victim surcharge. He had refused EA removal orders. The haulier was previously required to donate £30,000 under an Enforcement Undertaking.
