Ex Southern Water Boss In Court Accused Of Plot To Avoid Fines

Matthew Wright leaving court

The former Chief Executive of Southern Water appeared in court yesterday charged with conspiracy to defraud the Environment Agency and The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) regarding effluent testing.

Matthew Reginald Wright, 61, of Doyle House, Derby Road, Haslemere, Surrey appeared in the dock at Bromley Magistrates’ Court.

He and three other employees of the company are charged with a conspiracy to deliberately implement artificial no-flow events at waste water treatment works operated by the company to make testing impossible under the industry’s Operating Self-Monitoring (OSM) scheme.

The company potentially avoided industry fines totalling up to £45m.

They are: Philip Barker, 58, of Firtops, Grove Lane, West Chiltington, West Sussex.

Mark Gregory, 64, of Newton Road, Southampton.

Clive Bernard  Massey, 66, of Sunnybank, Brandhill, Craven Arms, Shropshire.

The Environment Agency are bringing the prosecution and were represented by Andrew Marshall during the short hearing in the packed courtroom.

The alleged conspiracy was between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017.

Three other Southern Water employees also face separate charges, regarding failure to comply with or contravening environmental permit conditions.

They are: Mark Butler, 47, of London road, Sayers C
ommon, Hassocks, West Sussex, who faces eight charges relating to six wastewater treatment works in Kent and East Sussex on various dates between March 15, 2015 and November 27, 2024.

David James, 60, of Chippers Road, Worthing, West Sussex, who faces one count, relating to Beaulieu Village Wastewater Treatment Works, Hampshire or about November 23, 2016.

Terry Stephens, 68, of Fontwell Mews, Cowplain, Waterlooville, who faces one count relating to Horsham Wastewater Treatment Works on or about June 9, 2015.

Southern Water itself is charged with 100 offences of failing to comply with or contravene environmental permit conditions at various sites between 2013 and 2017 in relation to the OSM scheme.

The company also face three similar charges, separately listed.

The company faces a further five charges of discharging untreated water, namely sewage into Faversham Creek Faversham; diesel fuel and sewage at Swalecliffe Wastewater Treatment Works; sewage at Diamond Road Combined Sewer Overflow, Whitstable and sewage at Brook Road Wastewater Pumping Station.

Only three of the defendants, Wright, Gregory and Butler appeared in person, with the remainder remotely linked in.

All seven defendants were bailed to appear at Maidstone Crown Court, along with Southern Water on October 9.