Northumberland man sentenced for illegal waste dumping
Think of this as a real-world case study in how waste rules work. On Friday 19 December 2025, Newcastle Magistrates’ Court gave Dominic Allan, 30, from Old Swarland, a 23‑week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He must complete 16 days of rehabilitation and pay £3,154 in costs, and he has been ordered to clear all remaining waste from the land by 30 June 2026 or return to court.
Allan had earlier pleaded guilty on 16 October to two offences of operating an illegal waste site, the Environment Agency said. Magistrates were told he ignored clear instructions to stop the activity and remove the waste. This is the kind of case officials use to explain why permits exist: they are there to protect people, wildlife and local air quality.
What happened on the ground was straightforward. After reports from the public, Environment Agency officers visited Allan’s property at Old Swarland on 24 July 2024. They found a mix of scrap vehicles, construction and demolition debris, garden and household waste, and evidence that waste had been burned.
Allan told officers he did not realise he needed an environmental permit and said he was not operating a waste site. He also said many of the vehicles were not his and that an associate rented part of the compound to store them, and he intended to apply for a permit. But according to the Agency, his social media posts from summer 2024 advertised waste collection services and scrap vehicles for parts-activity that requires proper authorisation. Officers told him to stop burning and to clear the site.
Follow‑up checks showed little changed. In August 2024, waste remained on the land, including plasterboard, which is classed as hazardous. In October, officers found the gates locked but saw a plume of smoke from inside, suggesting burning was continuing. A further visit in March 2025 again found that the site had not been cleared.
This resulted in two charges under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016: operating a regulated facility without a permit between 23 July and 18 October 2024 at Aln View, Old Swarland; and operating without a permit on 20 March 2025 at the same location. These offences fall under regulations 12(1)(a) and 38(1).
What this means for you: if you keep, treat or store waste-even for a short time-you usually need an environmental permit from the Environment Agency. That includes activities such as storing scrap cars, taking in demolition rubble, or stockpiling waste collected from others. Permits set conditions to reduce fire risk, control pollution and protect neighbours.
Burning waste is not a workaround. Most waste cannot be burned, and doing so can create smoke and harmful pollutants. If you continue after being told to stop, the Agency can prosecute. Sentences can include fines, rehabilitation requirements and, in serious or repeated cases, prison-suspended or immediate.
Context matters here. In August 2021, Allan was convicted for similar behaviour at the same location after admitting offences of operating without a permit and burning waste. He received a 12‑month prison sentence, £1,000 in costs and 18 months to clear the site. The latest sentence reflects a pattern of not complying with the rules.
If you’re a student, teacher or neighbour learning from this case, keep it practical. Check first: do you plan to handle or store waste? If so, read the GOV.UK guidance or speak to the Environment Agency before you start. If you suspect illegal activity near you, note dates and what you see or smell and report concerns to the Agency or your local council-never put yourself at risk.