The wife of a jailed crime boss has claimed she will be forced to live in a tent when an illegal scrapyard is shut down. Mary Smith, 48, who is married to Tommy “Hotdog” Smith, lives in a detached house with eight bedrooms on land she owns in Great Harwood, East Lancashire.
The plot includes static caravans and stable space for up to 40 horses, but a major operation is set to take place to evict the occupants from the land after years of anti-social behaviour. A full closure order closing the site for three months and forcing those who live there off the land was issued by Judge Guy Mathieson at Preston Crown Court.
The court heard the order follows previous attempts to curb illegal waste collections and fires at the site. After illegal waste was dumped in May a huge blaze broke out on land outside the scrapyard’s boundary.
Toxic smoke billowed across the local area and firefighter fought the flames for four days. More than 240 hours were taken up with firefighters battling the inferno, according to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. Louts targeted police with fireworks when officers turned up after there were reports of disorder on Bonfire Night.
The court heard the waste management operation at the site is illegal and Mrs Smith didn’t dispute the basis for the order, but her legal team argued the court should consider the welfare of the children and animals who live at the site.
They called for a partial closure so people who live there can stay in their homes and look after their animals. But Judge Mathieson rejected their argument.
Mrs Smith told the court the blazes at the site were caused by tenants who have since been evicted, according to Lancashire Live.
She claimed that since her husband was jailed seven years ago she hasn’t had any business and is on benefits.
After Judge Mathieson asked what plans Mrs Smith would make if a full closure order was imposed by the court, she replied that she had bought a two-man tent for both her and her daughter, Indiana.
The judge asked: “You have a £1.4 million turnover and you are going to live in a tent?” To which she replied: “I don’t know what you are talking about. I don’t own any business.
“Sir, I think you have got it wrong. My husband has been in jail for the past seven years. I haven’t had any business for at least six years. At the moment, sir, I have had to sign on benefits.”
But the judge said there had been no evidence put forward to support Mrs Smith’s claim she would have to live in a tent and the children’s schooling would be disrupted as a result of the order.
Mark Chester, representing Lancashire Constabulary, told the court there was a “staggering” list of enforcement actions at the site dating back years. He said none of the measures had the required effect and as soon as previous orders lapsed the “lucrative” business of waste management picked up again.
Mr Chester told the court: “This has been years of misery being heaped on local residents.” This included neighbours being unable to open their windows because of “putrid smells” coming from the site.
Judge Mathieson said: “The fact is, the occupants of this site have done nothing to address the reasons behind the closure order. They have, either directly or indirectly by letting their tenants, continue to commit nuisance and continue to operate a highly profitable business. The only way to ensure the cessation of this is to grant a full closure order.”
The judge granted a full closure order, meaning more than 100 officials from the police, council, RSPCA and Environment Agency will move in to secure the site and prevent access.