News-Unlicensed scrap metal dealer ordered to pay £2,500 by court

Glen White, 38, of Shelley Avenue, Easington Lane, was ordered to pay out almost £2,500 in court fines and charges after pleading guilty to operating as a scrap metal dealer without a scrap metal licence in July and August 2023.

Peterlee Magistrates' Court heard the offences came to light during a multi-agency operation we led in August 2023. Aimed at targeting unlicensed scrap collectors, the operation saw our officers visit scrap yards in the county to examine lists of people who had visited recently.

Mr White's name appeared on the list 14 times between 30 June and 29 August, with bank records revealing he had been paid £8,418.50 for the metal he weighed in.

Multiple breaches

Checks on our database, and those of neighbouring local authorities, confirmed Mr White was unlicensed and had been previously subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order. This was issued following breaches to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act in 2015 and prohibited him from collecting and dealing in scrap metal. The court heard Mr White had also been convicted of similar offences in 2013 and 2017 in County Durham and Northumberland.

Mr White was not present in court, but magistrates heard he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and was aware that he should not be operating as a scrap metal dealer.

He was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay a £600 victim surcharge and costs totalling £355.

A new Criminal Behaviour Order was granted banning Mr White from: entering premises licensed for the receipt of waste and scrap metal in County Durham; receiving payment for scrap metal into his bank account from scrap metal sites licensed by the council; being in possession or control of scrap metal in County Durham; and carrying out collections of residential or commercial premises in County Durham.

Held to account

Ian Harrison, our business compliance manager, said: "This prosecution demonstrates how seriously both we and the courts take breaches of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act, especially when the defendant has flouted the law on multiple occasions.

"It's important that people who transfer scrap metal and other waste materials have the correct licences in place. Not only does it provide accountability, but it helps to ensure materials are disposed of correctly, thereby reduce fly-tipping and the damage this causes to our communities and the environment.

"I would also like to remind people that there are many ways to dispose of waste responsibly in County Durham, including taking it to one of our Household Waste and Recycling Centres or arranging a bulky waste collection."