Father and Son Waste Bosses Busted for Illegal Dumping in Cornwall
A dad and his son running a waste business from their home in Sticker, Cornwall, faced the music in court this week.
Michael Richards Duo Admit Guilt at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court
Michael Joseph Richards, 59, of Bugle, and his son Michael, 31, of Scredda, both pleaded guilty at 1. The younger Richards coped to three offences and was hit with fines, costs, and a victim surcharge totalling £4,443.
The senior Richards, however, faces serious trouble. Magistrates ruled his offences, along with a previous conviction, too serious for fines. A pre-sentence report was ordered, with sentencing set for 18 May. The court noted reoffending is unlikely as the land has now been sold.
Illegal Waste Dump Sparks Fire Risk Near Busy A390
The Environment Agency brought the case after discovering the pair ran a waste site without a permit at The Paddocks, St Stephen’s Road, Sticker. Richards Junior also admitted illegally transferring waste without a proper description and operating without registration.
In September 2020, the agency was tipped off about waste burning at the site. A month later, firefighters rocked up to tackle a blaze involving building and household waste — including plasterboard, wood, cement bags, electrical stuff, and even a caravan piled up near a gas tank and the busy A390. The potential for a smoky hazard was high.
Environment Agency Sounds Off on Toxic Mess
Officer Stephen Clark inspected the site, uncovering car tyres, more household rubbish, and another caravan stuffed with building waste. Richards Junior was ordered to provide waste transfer notes within a week — but he stayed silent. At a later meeting, he promised to clear the waste and admitted dumping it while unregistered.
Despite a formal notice to remove the rubbish, by June 2021 the mess remained and had grown worse.
“This was both an environmental and fire hazard as well as being a blight on the village. Such illegal waste activities undermine the work of legitimate businesses,” said Stephen Clark from the Environment Agency.
