Callum Conley, a 29-year-old scrap metal dealer from Coxhoe, has avoided jail after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice. Durham County Council took legal action against him following an investigation into his waste carriers licence.
Investigation details
Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard that Conley was seen carrying scrap metal in West Cornforth by a neighbourhood warden. He claimed to have a waste carriers licence with a registered business, but checks revealed that while he held waste licences, none were in the name of the business he mentioned. The business confirmed that Conley had never worked for them formally.
Conley failed to attend four separate interviews, despite being issued formal Section 108 notices. The court also heard about a previous case a year earlier, where he had repeatedly failed to produce a waste carrier’s licence, leading to legal action until a licence was eventually provided.
Sentencing and impact
Conley was found guilty of two charges of perverting the course of justice. He received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 14 rehabilitation requirement days and 250 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 in costs to the council.
Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Whether a resident, business or a waste carrier, we all have a responsibility to ensure our waste is disposed of correctly. While it may seem trivial, it is a legal requirement for anyone who transports controlled waste to have a licence.
“This small action forms part of wider efforts to prevent waste being dumped in our communities, and we will investigate those we believe to be operating without the correct licence. In this case, Conley’s failure to respond to initial legal proceedings resulted in him facing significant penalties, something which could have been avoided had he assisted us with our investigations.”
