A MAN who illegally stored and transported clinical waste has been given a suspended prison sentence and banned from being a company director for two years.

Salisbury Magistrates court heard that Christopher Downs, who traded under the company name Prowaste Solutions from Estcourt Road and Ashfield trading estate, had made a number of permit applications but on each occasion had either failed to provide sufficient information or to pay the necessary application fee.

In November 2012, he started bringing general waste to the site as well as clinical waste despite being told on numerous occasions he needed an environmental permit.

In February 2013 he obtained an exemption that allowed him to take in separated recyclable waste such as cardboard, plastic and metals. However, he also continued to bring general waste to the site without a permit.

Stephanie Marriott for the Environment Agency said: “Environmental permits are important because they help safeguard the environment and human health.

“The defendant had every opportunity to obtain a permit, but chose ignore the advice he was given and continued to operate illegally.”

In October 2013 the Agency served Downs, of Wessex Road, Salisbury with a legal notice to prevent him from bringing general waste to his business premises.

Downs was found guilty by Salisbury magistrates of operating a regulated waste facility on land in Estcourt Road, Salisbury without an environmental permit.

As a director of the company, he was also convicted of giving his consent or connivance to the operation of an illegal waste facility on the Ashfield Industrial Estate, Salisbury.

He was given a 16-week prison sentence suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay £5,000 costs and an £80 victim surcharge and to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay an £80 Victim Surcharge and carry out the 100 hours community service over the next 12 months.