Conman spared prison for unlawful waste tire activities

Devon, UK -  The owner of a tire waste business has been given a 15-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and a two-year supervision order after illegally storing almost 84,659 waste tires at several sites in Devon.

According to the Environment Agency, which brought the case, Andrew Mayhew pleaded guilty to five offences, at Plymouth Crown Court, of running a waste operation without the necessary permits.

Mayhew’s offences involved dumping large numbers of tires at several different sites including Hill Barton Business Park, Exeter; Moor Barton Farm in Tiverton, as well as Dawlish, North Tawton, and Hayedown industrial estate, Tavistock.

The court heard how Mayhew rented commercial premises from January 2013 to February 2014 and collected or received end –of-life tires. He then sent them to illegal places for disposal, abandoned the tires or entered into contracts with haulers to transport them and then failed to pay.

According to the Environment Agency, Mayhew received considerable advice from the agency including guidance and general warnings regarding these activities but deliberately ignored all advice.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: “Mayhew conned people into believing he was a legitimate businessman. He got paid to collect waste tires, then abandoned them at the four premises he leased, failing to pay rent and bills in the meantime and left the site owners to pay to clear up his mess.”