Mohammed Tager: Sheffield Waste Sentence Suspended for 18 Months

• Mohammed Tager received a 39-week suspended prison sentence for operating an illegal waste site in Sheffield without an environmental permit.
• He was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, pay a £187 victim surcharge, and contribute £2,000 towards prosecution costs.
• The Environment Agency repeatedly warned Tager about the accumulating mixed, electrical, and inert waste at the Former Stanley Works site, but these warnings were ignored.
• The landowner, Concept Investments Limited, was fined £8,000, and its director, Austin Fitzgerald, received a 12-month community order in connection with the same illegal operation.
• This case highlights the Environment Agency's intensified crackdown on waste crime, reinforcing its commitment to consistent enforcement through initiatives like its 10 Point Plan.

This Sheffield illegal waste site conviction underscores the Environment Agency's firm stance against individuals and businesses that flout environmental regulations.

Mohammed Tager, a 38-year-old operator from Verdon Street, Sheffield, has been handed a 39-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, following his conviction for operating a regulated facility without the necessary environmental permit. The sentencing took place at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on September 16, where Mr. Tager had previously entered a guilty plea to the charge. In addition to the suspended custodial term, the court mandated that Mr. Tager complete 180 hours of unpaid work over the 18-month period of his suspension. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187 and contribute £2,000 towards the prosecution's costs.

The conviction of Mohammed Tager marks a significant development in the Environment Agency's ongoing efforts to tackle waste crime in the region. The illegal waste site, located at the Former Stanley Works on Rutland Road in Sheffield, has since been fully cleared. This clearance occurred after the successful prosecution and sentencing of two co-defendants earlier in the year, underscoring the multi-faceted approach taken by authorities to address such environmental breaches.

The Environment Agency's investigation into the Sheffield illegal waste site revealed a pattern of non-compliance and disregard for environmental regulations. Officers first visited the site on July 7, 2022, discovering a substantial quantity of mixed waste. Subsequent inspections in the following months documented a further accumulation of various waste materials, including refrigerators, other electrical items, and inert waste like soil and stones, alongside evidence of waste burning.

Despite being explicitly informed that waste storage without a permit was prohibited, the operator failed to comply. On October 10, 2022, a formal notice was issued, granting six weeks for the site to be cleared. However, a January 2023 inspection found that no waste had been removed; instead, new waste had accumulated. A further formal notice, requiring clearance by June 5, 2023, was also not adhered to. The Environment Agency continued to request that no more waste be brought to the site and that existing waste be cleared. Complaints regarding waste burning, impacting local residents, were received in late 2024 and early 2025, prompting advice from Sheffield City Council for the operator to cease such activities.

In related proceedings, two co-defendants were sentenced on April 15, 2026. Concept Investments Limited, identified as the landowner, received an £8,000 fine, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and was ordered to pay £5,442 in costs. Austin Fitzgerald, a director of the company, was given a 12-month community order, requiring 140 hours of unpaid work, and was also ordered to pay £5,442 in costs and a victim surcharge.

This Sheffield illegal waste site conviction underscores the Environment Agency's firm stance against individuals and businesses that flout environmental regulations. An agency spokesperson emphasized that Mohammed Tager demonstrated a complete disregard for the law, the environment, and the local community, repeatedly ignoring official warnings and notices. The successful prosecution, alongside those of his co-defendants, reflects the diligent efforts of officers to take decisive action.

The Environment Agency is actively escalating its efforts against waste crime through its new 10 Point Plan. This comprehensive program builds upon existing partnerships and initiatives, aiming to strengthen prevention measures, enhance detection capabilities, and ensure more consistent enforcement across the board. The agency encourages anyone who suspects illegal waste activity to report it via their 24-hour hotline at 0800 807060 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The broader governmental commitment to tackling waste crime was highlighted in August when Prime Minister Andy Burnham outlined plans to address the issue.

This case signals the Environment Agency's intensified crackdown on waste crime, demonstrating that individuals operating without environmental permits and ignoring regulatory warnings face significant penalties, including suspended prison sentences. Compliance officers must ensure robust waste management protocols and prompt responses to EA notices, while legal counsel should be prepared to advise on the severe consequences of environmental permit breaches.

Source: Original reporting via GOV.UK