Rotherham 'waste mountain' dumper jailed

A ROGUE waste dumper who left mountains of rubbish dotted across South Yorkshire has been jailed for a total of six years. Andrew Brightmore (43), of Toad Lane, Brampton-en-le-Morthen, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilt

A ROGUE waste dumper who left mountains of rubbish dotted across South Yorkshire has been jailed for a total of six years.

 

Andrew Brightmore (43), of Toad Lane, Brampton-en-le-Morthen, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to illegally dumping more than 30,000 tons of controlled waste at a number of sites—including 27,000 tons at Red Hill Quarry, Gildingwells.

He was also sentenced for his part in a fuel scam involving the theft of 150,000 litres of red diesel.

Brightmore’s sentence also included a nine-month jail term and a three-year driving ban for drink driving, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, all of which he admitted.

Gildingwells residents began a campaign to have Brightmore evicted from the site back in 2006 and coined the nickname “Gillimanjaro” in reference to the mountain of waste that grew on the green field site. 

The court heard that an investigation by the Environment Agency had found that more than 27,000 tons of waste was estimated to have beeen burned at the Red Quarry site, including substances Brightmore himself referred to as “nasties.”

The agency had also discovered that Brightmore was dumping and burning waste at his former home at Holme Stud Farm, Brampton-en-le-Morthen, as well as in a field off Hard Lane, Kiveton, and on land off Trent Street in Attercliffe, Sheffield.

The Environment Agency had estimated that Brightmore saved in the region of £296,000 by undercutting lawful competitors by avoiding disposal costs between 2006 and 2008.

Despite numerous warnings about his illegal activities, Brightmore had carried on dumping and the Environment Agency eventually gained a High Court injunction against Brightmore’s activities at Red Hill Quarry.

But he had continued to operate and at Liverpool High Court on March 13, 2008, he had admitted committing 16 breaches of the injunction.

In relation to the fuel scam, Brightmore had been found guilty of conspiracy to steal red diesel from developers Cheetham Hill Construction over a two-year period.

Brightmore had worked with CHC employees Daniel Rapson (38), of Monk Bretton, Barnsley, and Charles Geering (40), of Millhouses, Sheffield, to steal the fuel from former pit tip developments in Dinnington, Kiveton and Pleasley.

After the hearing, Det Con Gareth Gent, who investigated the fuel conspiracy, said that he was pleased with the outcome, adding: “This has been a very lengthy and difficult investigation.”

Rapson was sentenced to two years while Geering received an 18-month sentence for their involvement..