Anglian Water convicted after records complaint

Anglian Water has been convicted of not complying with a requirement to provide records, the Environment Agency says

A water company is poised to be sentenced after being convicted of not complying with a requirement to provide records, the Environment Agency has said.

Anglian Water was found guilty by a district judge following a trial at Peterborough Magistrates' Court, agency officials said.

Officials said the agency brought the case against Anglian Water following a wider investigation into "potential non-compliance" with environmental permit conditions.

An Anglian Water spokeswoman said the company had been found "not guilty" on "two counts of failing to provide data".

'Investigation'

"Anglian Water Services Ltd has been found guilty of failing, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a requirement to provide records by the Environment Agency," said the Environment Agency in a statement.

"The case was brought by the Environment Agency against Anglian Water Services Ltd, which arose out of a wider criminal investigation involving all ten water companies into potential non-compliance with environmental permit conditions at over 2,000 wastewater treatment works."

Anglian Water had pleaded not guilty and argued it had a "reasonable excuse for non-compliance", the agency said.

'Sentencing'

Anglian Water said in a statement: "Anglian Water was found not guilty on two counts of failing to provide data to the Environment Agency."

The company indicated that the counts on which it had been found not guilty "were the two most serious allegations for obstruction".

A spokeswoman added: “On the third count, we have received the judge’s draft sentencing remarks and will now take the opportunity to review the basis of sentence.”

The Environment Agency said District Judge Kenneth Sheraton had listed a sentencing hearing had been listed for 5 July.