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They’ve been ordered to pay a combined total of £6822 by Swansea Magistrates Court after Natural Resources Wales had found correspondence within the waste that had been deposited on their land.

All five individuals have been sentenced on the 21st May 2026. Further details of those involved can be found below.

The waste was disposed of illegally on land in the Rheola forestry in the Neath Valley, which is owned by Natural Resources Wales.

The combination of a document left at the scene, CCTV and witness accounts along with other evidence and extensive questioning has resulted in the successful prosecution of five people in total.

During an earlier hearing at Swansea Magistrates Court in February 2026, four of the defendants pleaded guilty to the following offences:

- Ian Jenkins pleaded guilty to an offence in relation to duty of care by failing to ensure the waste is disposed of lawfully.

- Stephen Powell pleaded guilty to being the person in control of the vehicle used to unlawfully deposit controlled waste.

- Keiron Powell and Darcy Thomas pleaded guilty to offences of unlawfully depositing controlled waste and transporting waste without a waste carriers’ licence.

Anthony Jones and another male pleaded not guilty and their cases were listed for trial.  

On 21st May 2026, the trial took place where Jones was found guilty of an offence of failing to ensure that the waste was disposed of lawfully.  The other male was found not guilty. 

The following individuals have now been sentenced at Swansea Magistrates Court:

Name: Keiron Powell
Age: 29
Address: Greenwood Road, Neath
Charge: Section 33 (deposit), Environmental Protection Act 1990
Fine: £700
Costs: £850
Victim Surcharge: £280
        TOTAL: £1830

Name: Stephen John Powell
Age: 54
Address: Greenwood Road, Neath
Charge: Section 33(5) Environmental Protection Act (knowing his vehicle was being used)
Fine: £200
Costs: £532
Victim Surcharge: £80
        TOTAL: £812  

Name: Darcy Thomas 
Age: 30
Address: Greenwood Road, Neath 
Charge: Section 33 (deposit), Environmental Protection Act 1990 
Fine: £700
Costs: £850
Victim Surcharge: £280
        TOTAL: £1830

Name: Anthony Jones
Age: 32
Address: Wheatley Road, Neath 
Charge: Section 34 (duty of care), Environmental Protection Act 1990 
Fine: £660
Costs: £482
Victim Surcharge: £264
        TOTAL: £1406

Name: Ian Jenkins
Age: 39
Address: No fixed abode
Charge: Section 34 (duty of care), Environmental Protection Act 1990
Fine: £330
Costs: £482
Victim surcharge: £132
        TOTAL: £944  

The court ordered the tipper vehicle to be forfeited to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. The Council is now assessing the vehicle’s condition and deciding its fate (which may result in the vehicle being crushed).

Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Cllr Scott Jones says:

“We have beautiful areas of forestry and countryside throughout the Neath Port Talbot County and people should be able to enjoy it responsibly without encountering dangerous deposits like this.

“We hope this sends a strong message that regardless of how minor you think your role is in the illegal disposal of waste, you will still be held responsible.”

James Roseblade, Land Management Senior Officer for Natural Resources Wales said:

“Illegal waste disposal continues to be a serious and unacceptable blight on our communities, our environment, and our economy. Tackling this activity and bringing perpetrators to account remains one of our highest priorities.

“Waste crime takes many forms, operating at different scales, and costs businesses, landowners and taxpayers millions of pounds each year. It also causes significant harm to the environment, human health and wildlife.

“We welcome the court’s decision in this case and hope it sends a clear message that waste-related crime will not be tolerated and will be punished and Natural Resources Wales and its partners will continue to take appropriate enforcement action against those who break the law.”