Waste Bosses Jailed Over Blazing Fires That Raged for Days
Six reckless waste operators have been slammed with prison sentences and crippling fines after ignoring Environment Agency warnings about fire risks. The resulting infernos tore through their sites for days, causing massive environmental damage and terrifying local communities.
Shocking Sites and Serious Charges
The offenders were sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on May 20. They were found guilty of multiple environmental offences across three fire-hit sites:
- Greenology (Liverton) Ltd, Liverton near Loftus:
- Laura Hepburn, 44, director, and Jonathan Guy Brudenell, 54, no fixed address, were responsible for waste storage failures that sparked an April 2020 fire.
- Selective Environmental Solutions Ltd (SESL) and director Jonathan Waldron, 42, illegally dumped waste at a farm near Whitby.
- Old Eldon Brickworks, Eldon, Bishop Auckland:
- Waldron, as Falcons Two Ltd director, ignored enforcement orders leading to a major August 2020 fire.
- Greenology (Teesside) Ltd, Middlesbrough:
- Hepburn also faced charges for illegal tyre waste storage from 2021-2022.
Heavy Sentences for Fire Fiascos
- Jonathan Guy Brudenell: Jailed for 2 years and 10 months.
- Laura Hepburn: 2-year prison sentence suspended, 150 hours community service.
- Jonathan Waldron: 20-month suspended sentence, probation, rehab orders, 150 hours community work, plus £9,000 costs.
- Greenology (Liverton): Fined £69,000.
- Greenology (Teesside): Fined £20,000.
- SESL: Fined £14,666.66.
Environment Agency Hits Back
Gary Wallace from the Environment Agency slammed the offenders for the huge environmental wreckage and distress caused. The April 2020 Liverton fire and the August 2020 Eldon blaze burned for days, disrupting residents — especially tough during lockdown.
Despite repeated warnings, the defendants ignored fire risk management and even tried to dodge prosecution by renaming companies. Hepburn’s false claims about a ‘pyrolysis plant’ for tyre waste failed to mask the ongoing dangers.
Justice Served for Waste Crime
The harsh penalties underline the government’s zero tolerance for environmental crimes. The court wants to send a clear message: flouting fire safety and waste laws will lead straight to jail.
