Stuart Bedford, 62, formerly of Harrogate, and his wife, Vicky Bedford, 51, have been sentenced by Bradford Crown Court for operating illegal waste sites in Yorkshire. The successful prosecution was led by the Environment Agency.

Stuart Bedford received a 12-month prison sentence for running waste operations in Bradford and Doncaster without the necessary environmental permit. He was also found guilty of keeping waste at these sites in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution or harm to human health.

Vicky Bedford, who had no fixed address, received a 12-month community order and a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) for her involvement in the waste operations. Both sites caused significant disruption to local communities and posed risks to the environment.

In November 2020, a fire broke out at one of the sites located on Spring Mill Street in Bradford. Over 600,000 tyres were stored there. The fire led to serious travel disruptions, school closures, and business interruptions. Nearly 100 firefighters worked tirelessly to control the blaze.

Before the fire incident, Environment Agency officers had issued an enforcement notice to the operators of the Bradford site, instructing them to clear the tyres.

Mr and Mrs. Bedford were apprehended in Spain after international arrest warrants were issued against them. They were subsequently extradited to the UK to face trial.

During sentencing, Judge HHJ Gibson addressed Stuart Bedford directly, stating that there was no doubt he deliberately breached the law. His extensive experience in tyre storage and disposal made him aware that the number of tyres stored on the site far exceeded what was legitimately allowed under the exemption issued for that location.

Regarding the fire itself, the judge characterized Stuart Bedford’s actions as reckless. Despite the risk, he continued to store the tyres. The value of the tyres at the Bradford site was estimated at £1 million.

Stuart Bedford received concurrent sentences of 12 months and 8 months, resulting in a total of 12 months’ imprisonment.

Vicky Bedford’s sentence includes a 12-month community order and 15 days of RAR.

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