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.

  • 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.

Background

Further details on Operation Lord:

Nine imprisoned for operating illegal Lincolnshire waste site - GOV.UK

£75,000 to be confiscated from Lincolnshire waste criminals - GOV.UK

Updates to this page

Published 1 April 2026