Two men who showed a “blatant disregard for the environment” when they illegally deposited mounds of wood near a busy dual carriageway have been fined.

Waste firm director Ky Campion pleaded guilty to delivering the wood without a permit close to the A2 at Woodside House in Upper Harbledown.

Campion – who works at the Faversham-based East Kent Recycling – pleaded guilty in a personal capacity at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday after dropping off the wood and setting fire to it.

He was fined £2,150, while landowner Luke Lockhart pleaded guilty to causing or permitting the operation of a regulated facility without an environmental permit and was fined £2,670.

The Environment Agency received complaints of burning waste at the site on a number of occasions early in 2013.

In December 2013, the agency sent guidance letters to Lockhart after witnessing an East Kent Recycling vehicle depositing its contents at Woodside House, a site without a permit.

After the case, the Environment Agency’s Alan Cansdale said: “Ky Campion and Luke Lockhart’s actions showed a blatant disregard for the environment. The fires could have impacted on the busy A2 and could have resulted in disastrous consequences for road users.”

On behalf of Campion, Francis Elton said: “My client pleaded guilty to delivering two loads of wood to Woodside House.

“The Lockharts mistakenly believed that they had an exemption from the relevant EU regulations. Neither Mr Campion nor anyone employed by him set fire to any wood.”