Company director bagged almost £1 million through industrial-scale illegal dumping.
A senior company director who grew wealthy during the housing boom has been told by a judge he could be jailed for damaging the environment between Goole and Selby. The prosecution is part of a planned crackdown on illegal tipping by the Environment Agency.
Philip Slingsby, 42, has admitted illegally tipping building waste on an industrial scale at Middleton Quarry, Heck, and Pollington Lane, Pollington, five years ago.
Slingsby, whose empire includes interests in Slingsby Plant Hire and Slingsby Quarries Ltd appeared in Hull Crown Court on Monday (Sept 9) for sentence as part of proceedings to make him pay for his crimes. He benefited to the tune of £850,000 in his pocket, but has blown most of the cash. The courts say he has £200,000 which he will have to pay back. His barrister says he is bankrupt.
Judge Simon Jack told him: “It seems to me there is evidence of a very considerable disregard of warnings given by the Environment Agency and that could lead to a custodial sentence.”
Slingsby appeared tanned and relaxed. He gained his wealth from demolition, renting out construction equipment and aggregate supplies. His barrister Dapinder Singh said Mr Slingbsy had gained experience with large firms which carried out dumping operations and had not fallen foul of the Environment Agency before. He said when he had branched out to acquire new site he had run into difficulties but had brought sites to the attention of the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency began to investigate Slingsby’s dumping operations after receiving a complaint. In September 2011 it brought a prosecution and Slingsby of Hadds Lane, Thorne, pleaded guilty to four charges last September. It includes the deposit of controlled waste against Section 31 of the 1990 Environmental Protection Act between January 1 and April 5, 2008 in the quarry at Middleton Lane Quarry at Heck.
Judge Simon Jack agreed to adjourned sentence until October 7 for them both. He warned Slingsby: “You have £200,000 in assets. You have been given six-months to pay or there will be a sentence of two and a half years in default. I will adjourn for a pre-sentence report. I must warn you all sentencing options are open.”
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