Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) proceedings against three men have concluded following their involvement in more than a thousand tonnes of waste being illegally dumped in Wrexham.

The case of Anthony Park of Coronation Road in Camarthen, Karl Jones of Oak Tree Close in Rotheram and Gavin Taylor, of Barlow Drive in Sheffield, took place at Mold Crown Court on Friday.

All three were sentenced in April 2023 after 45-year-old Taylor and 37-year-old Jones had admitted knowingly causing controlled waste to be deposited on land otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit.

Park, aged 55, had admitted operating a facility otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit.

The offences related to some 1,600 tonnes of waste being illegally deposited at a site in Davy Way, Llay.

The Leader: Waste at the site in Llay (NRW)Waste at the site in Llay (NRW) (Image: NRW)It was said that the building at the site was three-quarters full, with waste being piled "as high as possible."

The POCA proceedings on Friday saw the court confirming the total amount of money or assets the defendants had accrued as a result of their criminality - and how much they had available for confiscation by the authorities.

Chris Stables, prosecuting on behalf of Natural Resources Wales, told the court that Taylor's total benefit was just over £351,000 - but in terms of the 'recoverable amount', a nominal sum of £1 was put forward.

Jones had benefited to the tune of more than £250,000, but again a 'nominal' sum of £1 was requested by way of a recoverable amount.

In the case of Park, the court heard his benefit figure came to just over £304,000 - but the recoverable amount for him was £7,705.

The Leader: Waste at the site in Llay (NRW)Waste at the site in Llay (NRW) (Image: NRW)Mr Stables said the loss to the complainant in this case, Nathan Church of the then landowner Distant Shores Limited, had been "extensive."

He explained: "Mr Church was the director and owner of Distant Shores, and they owned the land which was the subject of the licence.

"That's where the waste ended up.

"The costs to Mr Church and the company as a result of the activities of these defendants was £934,589 - so not far off £1million."

Mr Stables asked that, while Distant Shores has "since ceased to exist", the court consider awarding the £7,705 confiscated from Park as compensation to Mr Church.

Judge Timothy Petts agreed, and certified the benefit and recoverable amounts for each defendant.

The Leader: Waste at the site in Llay (NRW)Waste at the site in Llay (NRW) (Image: NRW)He said: "I am grateful to everyone for the hard work that has gone into reaching this agreed position.

"Those figures in relation to the recoverable amounts have been reached after full financial investigation by the prosecution.

"There may be circumstances in the future in which that figure can be reopened, should further sums or assets come to light, but the recoverable amounts are set as either the nominal £1, or £7,705 for Mr Park.

"Payment of these will bring these matters to an end, for now."