HE made thousands of pounds by illegally storing waste from unsuspecting building firms.

Now Patrick Browne faces a fine of more than £6,500 for running a waste operation company without a permit.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard how Browne, 31, and a business partner made £5,000 by transporting waste from companies to a rented site on an industrial estate.

Environment Agency officers visited Arch Farm Industrial Estate on January 5 last year and found six skips filled with material.

Prosecutor Peter Bilbrough told the court that waste had overflowed from skips, and builders’ bags, ceramic tiles, and plasterboard- type material was found in the vicinity.

A vehicle engine and a battery were found on the ground, which raised officers’ concerns over substances polluting the area.Mr Bilbrough said: “The defendant and his partner were identified and spoken to. They confirmed that they were the occupiers of the site and explained that they were clearing the site.

“The two gentlemen confirmed they would clear the waste from the site by January 13 and were told officers would return to check whether this was done.”

The court heard how officers returned to the industrial estate on February 8 and discovered two skips full of different materials than on the first visit, and the vehicle engine, builders’ bags, and plasterboard material were still on site.

Officers were told the business partners had encountered problems because their vehicle had broken down.

Mr Bilbrough said Browne, of The Terrace, Damerham, Fordingbridge, also tried to obstruct officers when taking photos.

Browne, who pleaded guilty to operating a regulated facility, namely a waste operation, without the benefit of an environmental permit, was interviewed under caution on May 3 and said he had brought the skips back to the site for storing while he waited for payment, the court heard.

Mr Bilbrough said Browne, who held a waste carriers’ licence, told interviewers he intended to take the waste to official disposal sites.

Catherine Norton, defending, said Browne is “a young man trying to provide for his family”.

She told the court: “Having decided to step up business by assisting people to take rubbish to tips and obtain a waste carriers’ licence, the problem arose when my client thought of another way to make money. He was going to purchase skips and carriers and rent them out to builders.”

She said Browne was told he needed a permit and soon ceased the operation.

She added the partners made £5,000 through the business.

Ms Thornton added: “He is a family man and wants to make amends to the court.”

Fining Browne a total of £6,500, magistrate Colin Burgess said: “It was a deliberate breach of the rules and you were aware of that. You knew about the transport licence and must have known full well of what was required of you in regards to storing waste.”