Unauthorised scrap metal dealer must pay over £22k in fines and costs

Samuel Sneyd, of Victoria Road, faced three charges to which magistrates proved he was guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court on September 1.

The 37-year-old was not present for the hearings but was found guilty of operating an unlicensed scrap business and transporting waste without a waste carrier's licence following a detailed investigation by Wiltshire Council's environmental enforcement officers.

Sneyd had operated unlicensed for five years, making money from his illegal activity throughout that period.

Between April 19, 2018 and February 23, 2023, he carried on business as a scrap metal dealer when not authorised by a licence under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.

For this offence, he received a £17,996 fine.

Between the same dates, he also transported controlled waste - namely, of an unnatural waste - to or from a place in Great Britain while not being a registered carrier of controlled waste.

For this offence, he received an extra £500 fine.

On April 30, 2023, the defendant failed without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement from an authorised officer of Wiltshire Council to produce his authority or his employer's authority to transport controlled waste.

This led to another £500 fine.

Sneyd must also pay £1,340 in court costs as well as £2,000 to fund victim services - £22,336 altogether.

Coun Caroline Thomas, Cabinet member for highways and waste, said: "Anyone who uses social media to find scrap metal or waste collectors should be very wary about who they allow to take their scrap metal and waste, as people can be fined if they give their waste to unlicensed collectors.

"Administrators of social media selling sites should also ensure anyone advertising for waste collection displays their full upper tier waste carriers licence number and scrap metal dealers licence number if they are advertising for scrap metal collection.

"These convictions show we take unlicensed waste and scrap metal collection very seriously and will work hard to prosecute offenders."

This is not Sneyd's first time before the courts.

Samuel Sneyd (Image: Wiltshire Police)

In 2020, he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of a knife blade and was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

On July 23, 2020, he and Adam Farrell entered the Esso Garage at The Nursery, approached the till with their faces covered, pulled a machete out of a bag, and made several demands for cash and cigarettes to be handed over, but left the scene calmly when another customer walked in.