Man sentenced for illegal waste operation in St Columb

A man has been given a suspended prison sentence for running an illegal waste operation in St Columb. 

Jake Bell, 38, from St Austell, trades as S&J Recycling, which is based at Tresaddern Farm.

He appeared before Truro Magistrates’ Court, where he admitted three charges brought by the Environment Agency. He was also sentenced for an unrelated offence of causing actual bodily harm.

Bell was handed 22 months in prison, suspended for two years. He must complete 120 hours of unpaid work, pay £480 in costs, and observe a four-month curfew between 7pm and 7am.

The Environment Agency said: “The court heard Bell had repeatedly ignored warnings to stop importing and stockpiling waste at sites in St Columb and St Austell without a permit. His actions undermined legitimate businesses and misled customers into believing their waste was being disposed of legally.”