Waste Criminals £67k Confiscation Orders

Environment Agency Latest News

Filed April 1st, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

The Environment Agency secured approximately £67,000 in confiscation orders against the Canner family for operating an illegal waste site at Fen Lane, Long Bennington, Lincolnshire. Following Operation Lord, Judge Steven Coupland ordered Joshua Canner to pay £55,723.21, Paul Canner £8,294.11, and Judith Canner £3,120 at Nottingham Crown Court on 30 March 2026. The three had previously received custodial sentences in June 2024.

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What changed

The Environment Agency obtained £67,137.32 in total confiscation orders against Joshua Canner (30), Paul Canner (55), and Judith Canner (56) at Nottingham Crown Court on 30 March 2026. The Canners ran an illegal waste site at Fen Lane, Long Bennington, Lincolnshire as part of Operation Lord, which previously resulted in 12 convictions and one company conviction in June 2024. Judge Steven Coupland ordered the confiscations following a Proceeds of Crime hearing.

This enforcement action demonstrates the Environment Agency's commitment to recovering criminal profits from waste crime beyond initial prosecution. Waste operators should note that custodial sentences are followed by financial recovery of illegal gains and taxpayer money spent on investigations. While this specific case does not impose new regulatory obligations, it reinforces that illegal waste operations will face both criminal penalties and asset recovery. Legitimate businesses benefit from EA enforcement that disrupts criminal competition.

Penalties

Confiscation orders: Joshua Canner £55,723.21; Paul Canner £8,294.11; Judith Canner £3,120

Source document (simplified)

Press release

Waste criminals to pay over £67,000 in confiscation orders

A crooked family who ran an illegal waste site in Lincolnshire must pay a total of nearly £67,000 in confiscation orders, following a Proceeds of Crime hearing.

From: Environment Agency Published 1 April 2026

Environment Agency investigation followed by Proceeds of Crime Award
Operation Lord continues after 12 people were convicted in June 2024
Latest hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday 30 March 2026 This follows an investigation by the Environment Agency – named Operation Lord – into the site at Fen Lane, Long Bennington near Grantham. It led to 12 people being convicted and one company.

The hearing was held on Monday 30 March 2026, at Nottingham Crown Court.

Judge Steven Coupland ordered that Joshua Canner, 30, of Main Road, Bilston, Warwickshire, must pay £55,723.21.

His father Paul Canner, 55, and mother Judith Canner, 56, of the same address as their son, must pay £8,294.11 and £3,120 respectively.

The 3 had previously received custodial sentences in June 2024.

The site at Fen Lane, Long Bennington.

Laura Richardson, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency for Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire Area, said:

The case shows that we’re not just content to prosecute those who run illegal waste sites.

We’ll also come after them to get back the profits they made from their illegal activities and to recoup taxpayers’ money spent on pursuing them.

Waste crime can have a serious environmental impact which puts communities at risk along with undermining legitimate business and the investment and economic growth that go with it.

We support legitimate businesses by disrupting and stopping the criminal element backed up by the threat of tough enforcement.

We continue to use intelligence-led approaches to target the most serious crimes and evaluate which interventions are most effective.

If you see or suspect waste crime is being committed we urge you to report it immediately to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.