A FORMER company boss jailed for what a judge at the time called a “flagrant disregard” of environmental laws, has been quizzed over money unaccounted for from businesses he was linked to.

Adrian Lewis, of Ebbw Vale, is appearing at a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Newport Crown Court, arising from offences committed when in charge of A Lewis Waste Management and Skip Hire Limited, in Nantyglo.

Lewis, 46, was jailed for eight months in autumn 2015 after pleading guilty to eight offences of breaching environmental conditions, unlawfully depositing waste, and failing to comply with a notice to remove waste.

Some of the 4,000 tonnes of waste at the Nantyglo site – meant to house 620 tonnes – was hazardous. In 2013/14, 23 formal complaints were made about the site.

Lewis continued to import waste despite official warnings to stop. The clean-up cost Natural Resources Wales (NRW) £1.3 million.

The hearing was told by prosecuting counsel Tim Evans that it is agreed Lewis benefited from his operation “in the sum of £950,000” and it was for the defence, on the balance of probabilities, to satisfy the court that he does not have that amount available to pay back.

The hearing before Judge Daniel Williams, who jailed Lewis 19 months ago, heard details of homes Lewis owns or jointly owns, and of vehicles registered in his name.

It was also told of what were described as “hidden assets”, in the form of two sums of money – £73,695 and £39,000 – taken from two companies, respectively Adrian Lewis Plant Hire Limited and Ace Waste Management and Skip Hire Limited, during the months prior to and after Lewis’ imprisonment.

Christopher Phillips, a financial investigator for NRW, told the hearing it has been suggested the £73,695 has been spent, but he had found no evidence of that in specific costs and services. He said the £39,000 had been unaccounted for from a total of £119,515 in withdrawals from Ace.

Lewis told the hearing the £73,695 may have gone on increased business costs during a busy time. But he was no longer a plant hire firm director or as involved in the business when the money was withdrawn, as difficulties arising from the waste issue were affecting his health.

Of the money unaccounted for from Ace, he said he was in prison for the period when it was withdrawn, and “had nothing to do with it.”

Defence counsel Michael Hammett said Lewis is on £60 a week in benefits and “struggling to piece his life back together.”

Proceeding.