Burning toxic waste 'like Bonfire Night' - court

Scott Wilkin must carry out 160 hours of unpaid work

A man caught burning hazardous waste on a Bradford farm asked Environment Agency officers "who grassed me up?", a court was told.

Bradford magistrates heard how Scott Wilkin, 33, had been involved in the illegal burning of waste, including household appliances, in Silsden.

Representing himself, Wilkin, of Riverside Road, said: "I didn't think I was doing a lot wrong - it was like what happens on Bonfire Night, just not on Bonfire Night."

He was given a 12-month community order including 160 hours of unpaid work after he admitted burning waste without a permit. David Holmes, 69, of Henholme Lane, charged with the same offence, failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Environment Agency carried out an investigation after complaints about burning on land off Henholme Lane in Silsden between October and January.

A prosecutor told the court firefighters had been called to the farm on three occasions to reports of fires, and had told those present they should not be burning.

'Caught red-handed'

Environmental officers visited the site on 5 November after reports of illegal burning of fridges, freezers, mattresses and other household goods.

The prosecutor said Mr Holmes was seen sorting through the waste and told them they "had him red-handed".

Mr Holmes allegedly said they were burning "fridges, freezers, everything" and that Wilkin would "bury" the waste afterwards.

The pair were sent letters on 19 November ordering them to stop burning on the site, but a future visit found the burning had seemingly continued, the court was told.

On that visit, Wilkin confirmed he had received the previous letter, but asked officers: "How did you get my address? Who grassed me up?"

The prosecutor told magistrates: "The defendant clearly knew he was doing something wrong," adding that the items being burned included "noxious and harmful waste".

Wilkin said he had recently taken on the tenancy of the farm and had been trying to clear waste to make room for storing livestock.

"It never came into my head what I was doing was as serious as it was," he told the court.

"I probably pushed my luck burning some things I shouldn't."

Wilkin, who was also ordered to pay £114 towards the Environment Agency's costs, said he understood Mr Holmes was stuck in Spain.