Patrick Doherty, Martin Ward, Michael Ward, and Simon O’Donnell were found guilty of conspiracy to illegally dump controlled waste at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, major media reported. The gang unlawfully occupied different spaces and directed convoys of tipper trucks to fill them with rubbish.
At a site in Colliers Wood, south-west London, the gang threatened a site worker, telling them to pay £5,000 or they would 'fill this unit to the brim', according to Metro. When the money was not paid, the gang left a pile of waste five feet deep which cost £15,000 to clear. At a site in Croydon, the landowner faced a £300,000 bill after security cameras were smashed and a company representative was threatened to prevent entry.
Doherty received 28 months in prison, Ward received 18 months, while Michael Ward and Simon O’Donnell each received a 14-month sentence suspended for two years. It remains unclear what motivated the operation or how many other sites were affected.