Christian Craig Astill, aged 37, has been handed a suspended custodial sentence for illegally depositing waste on land known as Erw Las, Llwynhendy, near Llanelli. The offences occurred between February 2023 and June 2024, and the waste included household waste, construction and demolition materials, mattresses, electrical items, plastics, metal, tyres, furniture, and other mixed waste.
Regulatory intervention and repeated offending
Inspections by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Carmarthenshire County Council officers found significant quantities of waste across the site. Despite requests to remove the waste and cease unauthorised activities, further waste was deposited. The site had no environmental permit authorising waste activities.
NRW officers reported experiencing repeated aggressive and abusive behaviour from Astill, requiring police attendance during regulatory visits. As a result, regulatory action was taken to revoke his waste carrier licence.
Previous convictions and sentencing
Astill, of Lon Einon, Penllergaer, Swansea, pleaded guilty to depositing controlled waste on land without an environmental permit. He has previous convictions for waste offences, including convictions in 2021 and 2023 for similar offences. The court heard mitigation relating to periods of ill health, but noted the offending continued over an extended period.
At Swansea Magistrates' Court, Astill was sentenced to 22 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to undertake up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity and complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Official response
Edward Davies, Waste Regulation Team Leader at NRW, said: “This case demonstrates that waste crime will not be tolerated in Wales. The waste permitting system exists to protect people, communities and the environment. Anyone who deposits, stores or manages waste must ensure they have the correct authorisations in place and comply with the law. In this case, substantial quantities of waste were deposited on land with no environmental permit despite repeated engagement by regulators.”
Davies added: “Waste crime can blight communities, damage the environment and undermine legitimate operators who invest in complying with environmental regulations. We assess all reports of suspected waste crime and will take action where it is appropriate, proportionate and supported by the available evidence.”
