A United Kingdom man who falsely claimed to be an asbestos disposal specialist has been handed a suspended prison sentence and may still face a proceeds of crime order.
The Environmental Agency, similar to the EPA, has noted that Lee Charles, a de facto director of Lincs Demolition, pleaded guilty to deceiving customers and falsifying documents to cover the deception.
The EA explained that Mr Charles was neither an asbestos specialist nor registered with the EA to manage hazardous materials.
The proceedings relate to Mr Charles storing asbestos-containing waste in storage containers at a private site in Lincolnshire, which was near a school. He told the owners of the space that he was keeping tools there.
When he failed to pay rent on the site, the owners of the storage facility forced the locks and uncovered the asbestos materials inside.
The EA explained that once he had been exposed, the activities at the storage facility were moved to an unpermitted site.
When the 12-month prison sentence was imposed, it was noted that Mr Charles knew that “the regulatory regime well enough to know what he was doing was seriously wrong”.
The sentence was suspended for two years to allow Mr Charles to pay the costs associated with the EA’s investigation. He will also be required to compensate the storage facility owners for clean up costs.
He has a forthcoming hearing in June which will consider the costs and may also deal with confiscating proceeds of crime.