Two men have been sentenced after pleading guilty to operating an illegal waste tyre site in Daventry, Northamptonshire. Andrew Eyre and Nimesh Patel were found guilty of running Synergy Tyres (Midland) Ltd. without an environmental permit, leading to significant environmental risks.
The site, located at Broad March Industrial Estate, stored waste tyres in an unsafe manner, posing a high fire risk and potential for severe pollution. Despite repeated warnings and inspections by the Environment Agency, the illegal operation continued for over a year.
The investigation revealed that the site was regularly exceeding the legal limit for waste tyre storage, with large shipments of tyres being sent to India. Andrew Eyre, the company’s director, and Nimesh Patel, the operations manager, were found to be knowingly involved in the illegal activities.
Sentencing the pair, the judge highlighted the reckless nature of their actions and the serious environmental risks posed by the illegal tyre site. She emphasised the potential for a devastating fire that could have endangered firefighters and site-users.
Andrew Eyre was sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 30 days of Rehabilitation Activities. Nimesh Patel received a 14-week suspended sentence and was ordered to perform 80 hours of unpaid work.
Synergy Tyres (Midland) Ltd. had previously faced fines and a suspended sentence for operating the same site illegally. However, the company continued to disregard environmental regulations.
The Environment Agency is committed to prosecuting those who abuse the environment and using Proceeds of Crime legislation to deprive criminals of the benefits of their illegal activities. They urge businesses to report any suspected illegal waste activities.
Source: Gov.uk
