A convicted waste offender, Simon Mason, has been ordered to pay a significantly increased amount under the Proceeds of Crime Act, after the Environment Agency discovered he had undeclared assets. This development comes after Mason’s initial sentencing in 2021, where he was ordered to pay £8,317.02.
Mason’s case was reopened by the Environment Agency after they received information about changes in his financial situation. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Mason owned a property that he had not declared during his initial sentencing. This nondisclosure led to a significant underestimation of Mason’s financial means, resulting in a much lower initial payment .
Mason was initially prosecuted in 2021 for waste crime offenses, including the illegal storage and burning of waste at a site in Holbeach, Lincolnshire. Despite repeated warnings from the Environment Agency, Mason continued to engage in these illegal activities. The site was found to contain numerous fridges, which are classified as hazardous waste and require specialist disposal.
At Lincoln Crown Court on February 27, 2025, Mason was ordered to pay an additional £278,492.92, bringing the total amount to £286,809.94. He has been given three months to pay the remaining amount or face five years of imprisonment. Additionally, Mason has been ordered to contribute £1,500 towards the Environment Agency’s costs
Peter Stark, Environment Agency Enforcement Team Leader, emphasized the agency’s commitment to holding waste criminals accountable for their actions. Stark stated that waste criminals will not be able to conceal their assets or information and that the Environment Agency will continue to work tirelessly to ensure justice is served .
The Environment Agency takes illegal waste activity very seriously and encourages anyone who suspects such activity to report it to their 24-hour incident hotline or anonymously through CrimeStoppers .
