Roy Brett, owner of a skip hire business near Braintree, has been given a 6-month suspended prison sentence by Chelmsford magistrates’ court. The court heard about his “repeated failure” to respond to Environment Agency warnings regarding overflowing skips and uncovered waste.
Brett's company, RJ Brett Contracts Ltd, was fined £3,000 for similar offences. Andrew McGregor, Chair of the bench, stated the site “posed multiple risks to the environment and human safety, including by fire.”
Between 2024 and this year, Brett did not comply with orders to clear waste from the Cressing site, which lacked sealed drainage and was exposed to the elements. The yard was filled with various types of rubbish, creating a fire risk.
The Environment Agency began investigating in July 2024, finding numerous skips overflowing. Despite warnings and a deadline to clear the site, the situation did not improve, leading to prosecution. Brett admitted in court to breaching environmental law.