Confiscation order increased by £280K after undeclared assets found in waste offences case

A man who was convicted of waste offences has been ordered to pay an additional £278,492 after the Environment Agency re-opened an inquiry into his finances and discovered he had undeclared assets.

The man, who had been storing waste illegally at a site in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, had initially only paid £8,317 as it was thought he had limited means.

However, a fresh investigation found that he owned a property he had not declared at the time of his sentencing in 2021.

During the original proceedings, Simon Mason was prosecuted for waste crime offences and was given a suspended prison sentence for storing and burning waste illegally at the Holbeach site, despite repeated warnings from the Environment Agency.

Numerous fridges were found on the site, which are classed as hazardous waste and require specialist disposal.

The land was also host to household waste, furniture, mattresses, clothing, paint cans, toilets, and televisions.

At a new hearing in February 2025, it was re-calculated that Mason benefited from his illegal waste activities by £286,809.94.

He was given three months to pay the remainder or serve five years imprisonment, and was ordered to make a £1,500 contribution towards the Environment Agency’s costs.

Peter Stark, Environment Agency Enforcement Team Leader, said: “Waste criminals should be aware how seriously we take their offending, including the benefit they obtain from their illegal activities. They won’t get away with concealing information or their assets, and due to the EA’s hard work, justice was served.”

Adam Carey