The boss of an illegal waste company has been ordered to repay more than £800,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) and given a two-year community sentence in the largest Proceeds of Crime Act ruling the Environment Agency has secured to date.

Amrik Johal was convicted on 23 April 2010 after a week-long trial for running an illegal waste operation on his land at Colnbrook Bypass, Slough. The operation was an illegal waste transfer station and scrap metal yard, the running of which had a serious impact on local residents living within ten metres of the site. This included dogs barking and powerful floodlights shining into their homes late at night, and the crushing of cars, which is a very noisy process.

Last week Mr Johal was given a two-year community order at Reading Crown Court. The verdict followed the trial in April 2010, after which the Environment Agency made an application for confiscation of Mr Johal’s assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The matter was referred to the Crown Court and the sentencing of Mr Johal was postponed until the determination of that application. Mr Johal was ordered to pay the sum of £881,513, representing the proceeds of his crime. This sum must be paid within six months of the date of this order – and in default Mr Johal will serve five years' imprisonment.

During the trial in April 2010 the Court heard that Environment Agency officers visited the site in Slough on numerous occasions between March 2006 and March 2007 and told Mr Johal that he did not have the correct authorisations for the waste activities seen at the site. The Court also heard about Mr Johal’s previous convictions for similar illegal waste offences.

Environment Crime Officer, Morgan Lound, said:
“Through the numerous site visits Mr Johal was aware that he was acting illegally. His illegal activities were harmful to the environment, undermined legitimate business and have caused distress to local residents for many years.

“We are particularly satisfied with the confiscation order of £881,513, and the threat of five years’ imprisonment if he does not pay, because the Environment Agency wants to make sure that serious waste crime doesn’t pay.

“For years Mr Johal has presided over an extensive and unlawful operation that has competed with law-abiding operators who operate from land with planning permission, who pay permit fees for a waste permit and are obliged to put in place expensive infrastructure to protect the environment.

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