Farmer from Undley, near Lakenheath, fined at Norwich Magistrates’ Court for environmental offences
A farmer from Undley with a history of environmental offending has been fined for taking more water than permitted, including during a drought.
Following a successful prosecution by the Environment Agency, on Wednesday Brian Rutterford, 77, was fined at Norwich Magistrates’ Court for water abstraction offences and ordered to pay £4,300.
Over four years, Rutterford took three times the amount of water he was licenced to take from a small channel next to his farm in Hockwold-cum-Wilton.
The farmer continued to take water during the hot summer of 2022, when East Anglia was officially in drought and many water courses were dry.
Rutterford’s actions impacted water supplies for the local community.
Brian Rutterford held two water abstraction licences, one for summer and one for winter.
His licences required him to keep abstraction records and maintain abstraction meters, which he failed to do.
Rutterford pleaded guilty to offences of over-abstraction under both licences between 2018 and 2022.
Environment Agency prosecutor Sarah Dunne told the court that, although Rutterford said he over-abstracted to address a leak in his lake that put his fish at risk, his activities had continued over four years.
In addition, the water abstraction offences were committed during his suspended sentence for another environmental offence, for operating an unpermitted waste site at his farm.
The presiding magistrate said Rutterford had been ‘chaotic’ and ‘incompetent’ and that his previous environmental offence was an aggravating feature.
Rutterford was ordered to pay £4,300, including a £2,000 fine for his offences, £100 for breaching his suspended sentence, £2,000 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £200.
Michelle Herron, East Anglia Operational Water Resources Specialist, said: “Water abstractors have a responsibility to conserve supplies, especially during droughts.
“Mr Rutterford clearly failed in fulfilling his responsibilities, so it is right that he pleaded guilty and be fined by the court.”