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A Bridgend man who ran illegal waste operations at three sites across Wales – including a farm in Caerphilly – has been sentenced and ordered to repay £322,500 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Stephen John Williams, 69, from Tondu, was the sole director of Wenvoe Environmental Limited and Servmax Limited. Between October 2018 and October 2019, he arranged for more than 2,600 tonnes of contaminated textile waste to be dumped at locations in Caerphilly, Cowbridge and Dolgellau.

At Cardiff Crown Court on Friday October 3, Williams was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years, and must complete five rehabilitation activity days, following a successful prosecution by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

He was also ordered to repay £322,500, representing the value of assets identified by the court. If he fails to pay within three months, he faces a further three years and six months in custody, which cannot be suspended.

The court found Williams had benefitted by £470,189 from his environmental crimes, including avoided landfill costs and accrued interest since 2019. Prosecutors may seek further funds if Williams acquires new assets in the future.

Waste found at Caerphilly farm

NRW officers first visited Pen Yr Heol Las Farm, on the mountain between Penyrheol and Llanbradach, in July 2019, where they discovered 1,843 tonnes of baled textile waste contaminated with general refuse.

Williams claimed it was intended for equine bedding, but officers found it unsuitable and posing a serious fire risk. Despite being served with a legal notice to remove the waste by August 30, 2019, he failed to comply.

Other sites in Cowbridge and Dolgellau

At Crossways Industrial Estate in Cowbridge, officers found 260 tonnes of similar waste. Williams again ignored orders to clear the site, leaving the landowners with a £48,790 bill to remove the waste themselves.

At Hengwrt, near Dolgellau, officers found a further 527 tonnes of waste, including clothing, carpets, foam and mattresses. Williams again failed to remove it despite legal notices.

Convicted in 2024

Williams first pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court in February 2023. Sentencing was deferred in August last year to allow for a Proceeds of Crime investigation to determine how much money could be recovered to fund site clearances and reimburse affected landowners.

NRW statement

Su Fernandez, Senior Enforcement Officer for Natural Resources Wales, said: “Businesses that move, store or broker waste must do so responsibly and within the law. When individuals choose to ignore these rules, the consequences can be serious.

“In this case, Stephen Williams demonstrated a sustained disregard for environmental law. The waste posed a significant fire risk and left landowners facing substantial clean-up costs.

“We welcome the outcome of this case and hope it sends a clear message that NRW will not tolerate the illegal disposal of waste. We will pursue offenders through the courts where necessary and use powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover the profits made from environmental crime.”