Gang of four sentenced over illegal waste dumping across London

Four men have been sentenced for illegally dumping waste at six sites across London.

CCTV footage shows the gang breaking into the sites and directing tipper trucks loaded with rubbish while attempting to hide their faces.

Patrick Doherty was jailed for 28 months and Martin Ward was jailed for 18 months on Friday.

Michael Ward, also known as Martin McCann, and Simon O'Donnell both received 14-month prison sentences suspended for two years.

The men were found guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of conspiracy to illegally dump controlled waste following a pattern of offending over a year.

The Environment Agency had investigated the men, uncovering a criminal operation which involved repeatedly dumping rubbish, such as tyres and waste from house clearances and construction, at different sites over a year.

As part of its investigation, the agency obtained CCTV footage showing the men taking control of sites and directing tipper trucks.

It also shows them interfering with CCTV cameras, hiding their own faces, and removing or covering vehicle registration plates.

The agency said the landowner of one site, at Imperial Way in Croydon, was left with a clean-up bill of £300,000 after security cameras were smashed and a company representative was threatened and refused entry.

At Station Road in the Colliers Wood area of Wimbledon, the gang was said to have "issued a chilling ultimatum" to a site worker, telling them to pay £5,000 or they would "fill this unit to the brim".

The money was not paid and waste was piled five feet high, costing £15,000 to clear.

Despite their attempts to conceal their identities, the Environment Agency said its investigators were able to gather enough evidence against them through nearby cameras, council CCTV and police body-worn footage.

Waste crime costs the UK over £1bn each year, harms communities and undermines legitimate businesses, the Environment Agency said.

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Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: "The actions of these shameless waste criminals are unacceptable and have rightly been punished.

"My message is simple - break the law by dumping waste and we will come after you.

"This government is stepping up action, through our waste crime action plan, with new powers and more funding for the authorities and tougher punishments for criminals."

Under the government's plans to tackle waste crime, the Environment Agency says it will increase its enforcement and intervene earlier, backed by an additional £45m from the government over the next three years.

(c) Sky News 2026: Gang of four sentenced over illegal waste dumping across London