R v Thames Water Utilities Ltd [2015] EWCA Crim 960, [2015] All ER (D) 31 (Jun)
The defendant company pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to regs 38(1)(a) and 39(1) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/675), following the discharge of untreated sewage from its pumping station. The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, in upholding the fine of £250,000 imposed by a recorder, held, among other things, that the court would have had no hesitation in upholding a very substantially higher fine. The court gave guidance on the approach to be adopted under the Sentencing Council’s definitive guideline on environmental offences in respect of very large commercial organisations.
