A man convicted of waste-related offences in Lincolnshire has been ordered to pay almost £280,000 after it was discovered that he had failed to declare significant assets during his trial. Simon Mason, 54, was initially prosecuted in 2021 for illegally storing and burning waste at a site in Holbeach, despite being repeatedly warned by the Environment Agency. At the time, he was handed a two-year suspended sentence and instructed to pay £8,317.
However, a follow-up investigation revealed that Mason had concealed the ownership of a property, leading to a new hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on 27 February 2025. At this hearing, Mason was ordered to pay an additional £278,492 after authorities uncovered that he had failed to disclose the asset. This substantial fine stems from Mason’s illegal activities, which included the storage and burning of waste without proper environmental permits.
In addition to the financial penalty, Mason was also required to contribute £1,500 toward the Environment Agency’s investigation costs. The court granted him three months to settle the amount, or he would face a prison sentence of up to five years.
The offences took place at a property in Holbeach, where Mason illegally stored over 600 fridges and engaged in the unlicensed burning of various types of waste. The Environment Agency had originally assumed that Mason had limited financial means, and as a result, only £8,317 was recovered from his initial sentence. However, new findings about Mason’s hidden assets led to the reopening of the case and the discovery of further undeclared wealth.
Peter Stark, the Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, emphasized the severity of such crimes. “Waste criminals should be aware of how seriously we take their offending, including the benefits they obtain from their illegal activities,” he said, signaling a tough stance against environmental crime. The agency continues to tackle such violations with the aim of protecting public health and the environment from unlawful waste management practices.
Mason’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency in legal matters and highlights the ongoing efforts of the Environment Agency to clamp down on waste crime. It also reflects the significant financial and legal consequences that can arise from ignoring environmental laws and regulations.