A DODGY developer has escaped a prison sentence after illegally dumping more than 25,000 tonnes of construction waste in a field at Rejerrah near Newquay.

Paul Stephens, as the director of Park Lane Financial Management Limited, who ran the now-liquidated Stephens & Stephens Group, went before Truro Crown Court on October 27 following an investigation into the site in Hendra Croft, Scotland Road carried out by the Environment Agency.

Officers using ground-penetrating radar discovered an estimated 25,734 tonnes of hazardous waste dumped (Picture: Environment Agency)
Officers using ground-penetrating radar discovered an estimated 25,734 tonnes of hazardous waste dumped (Picture: Environment Agency)

Officers using ground-penetrating radar discovered an estimated 25,734 tonnes of hazardous waste dumped, buried and illegally burned across the site without a Environment Agency permit, which included asbestos, plastic, gas canisters, mattresses and electronics that was considered likely to cause pollution to the environment and harm human health.

Officers observed a pile of waste 30 meters in length including household waste in bin bags, stored on bare earth during a site visit in 2023, which meant that polluting substances could drain directly into the earth and enter the water table.

Contractors also carried out a survey to excavate parts of the site (Picture: Environment Agency)
Contractors also carried out a survey to excavate parts of the site (Picture: Environment Agency)

Contractors also carried out a survey to excavate parts of the site as part of the investigation, which identified large quantities of buried construction and demolition waste including plastics, wood and metal.

The prosecutor stated it is likely some of the asbestos waste came from the demolition of the former Cliffdene Hotel at Narrowcliff, which saw Stephens landing up in court in 2024. He pleaded guilty to offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act for exposing staff and the public to asbestos and was fined more than £65,000.

The Environment Agency prosecutors stated the dumping of the waste over a period of seven years was motivated by profits and showed a complete disregard for the environment.

Rubbish dumped included asbestos, plastic, gas canisters, mattresses and electronics (Picture: Environment Agency)
Rubbish dumped included asbestos, plastic, gas canisters, mattresses and electronics (Picture: Environment Agency)

Park Lane Financial Management Limited pleaded guilty to three environmental offences committed between November 2018 and July 2025, two for operating of an illegal waste site, and one for the burning of waste.

The director of the company, Paul Stephens, 58, formally of Malpas who now lives in Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty to the illegal deposit of waste and the burning of waste. The prosecution requested three other counts would lie on file.

Stephens was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment suspended for two years, with a curfew of 7pm to 7am for four months and 180 hours of unpaid work. He was also disqualified from operation as a director for four years and ordered to clean up the waste from the site within 12 months.

Park Lane Financial management Limited was fined a total of £90,000 after pleading guilty to three environmental offences committed between November 2018 and July 2025, two for operating of an illegal waste site, and one for the burning of waste.

The waste was considered likely to cause pollution to the environment and harm human health (Picture: Environment Agency)
The waste was considered likely to cause pollution to the environment and harm human health (Picture: Environment Agency)

Judge Atkins stated it was not feasible to impose environmental fines on Stephens as the Stephens & Stephens Group had gone into liquidation but warned him if he took part in polluting the environment again or refused to carry out the unpaid work he would send him straight to prison.

Environment Agency area environment manager Tim De Winton said: “This is a case where waste was deliberately dumped, buried, and burned, with little regard for the impact on the environment.

“The verdict is a signal to illegal businesses. We will not let you get away with ignoring the rules which protect people, the environment, and legitimate business.”