THE former boss of a recycling firm based in Pontypool has denied that breaching permits led to him making a profit on unfulfilled waste contracts.

Christopher Baylis, 57, of Black Barn Farm, Aston Sandford, Aylesbury appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, December 6 for the third day of a proceeds of crime hearing.

He was previously sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and banned from running any company for the next five years.

When previously sentenced, he was involved in running Thorncroft Recycling Waste Ltd, the court heard.

Grant Pons, the defence counsel, asked the defendant about one of the companies that he established – Refac – and that operated from Pontypool as well as a number of payments made via that company.

“It was set up to sort plastics from the Polo Grounds industrial estate. It sorts plastics into different polymer types,” said Baylis, who confirmed the company was incorporated in 2006.

“There are three payments going into the Refac account in 2014 that you are asked to explain,” said Mr Pons.

One of the payments referred to another of Baylis’ companies – Baylis Farms – which was incorporated in 2005 and received a payment of more than £24,000.

“Why was Baylis Farms providing Refac with money?” said Mr Pons.

“Simply as money invested into the operation of Refac,” said Baylis,” It was short term loan.”

Mr Pons asked: “Was there a written agreement of the short term loan?” to which Baylis said there was not.

Baylis told the court that he estimated there was 200 tonnes or “thereabouts” of rubbish left at the site at the Polo Grounds industrial estate.

Among the organisations it obtained contracts from were Caerphilly County Borough Council, which contracted the firm to receive and sort mixed recycling at an agreed cost of £40 per tonne, an agreement from which the company made more than £193,000 between December 2013 and October 2014.

“The failure of Thorncroft Recycling and in relation to the permit, did that make the contract with Caerphilly more profitable?” said Mr Pons.

“Did you make more money by breaching the contract?” to which Baylis replied “No.”

He previously appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, February 8, after previously admitting three counts of allowing the operation of a regulated facility, Thorncroft Recycling in the Polo Grounds Industrial Estate in New Inn, without a permit and two of failing to properly store waste.

He had also pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an enforcement notice.

A fixed sentencing hearing for the proceeds of crime hearing has been scheduled for Monday, January 8 and a judgement is not expected until next year.

Proceeding.