A BUSINESSMAN who was found guilty of illegally storing and dumping waste will face a court hearing next year when prosecutors will attempt to claw back millions of pounds from his criminal earnings.

Raymond Anthony Shepherd was not present at Teesside Crown Court when Judge Tony Briggs agreed that a five-day proceeds of crime hearing will take place on February 9 next year.

The Northern Echo has learnt that the sum being sought by the Crown will run into millions of pounds, although no exact figure has yet been set.

The 59-year-old former boss of Darlington-based Albert Hill Skip Hire along with his 40-year-old son Tony Leigh Shepherd are both subject to the proceeds of crime application.

Neither were in court for the short administrative hearing.

Lee Fish, prosecuting, said there had been no response at all from Raymond Shepherd to a statement served upon him.

However, there had been a “detailed” response from Tony Leigh Shepherd, he said.

Mr Fish said there would be a number of written submissions between the parties prior to next February’s hearing in what he said was an attempt to narrow down the issues involved.

Richard Herrmann, for Raymond Shepherd, of Burnside Cottages, Rookhope, County Durham, said: “Mr Shepherd has failed to engage in the process.

“I would not dare to say I understand the workings of my client's mind, but he steadfastly believes and maintains that his convictions were wrong.”

The Echo understands Raymond Shepherd has already been refused by one judge leave to appeal the convictions from his lengthy trial in 2013, which was brought by the Environment Agency.

He was jailed for 18 months after being convicted of operating a regulated facility without a licence, unlawfully depositing controlled waste and failing to comply with a suspension notice. He denied all the offences.

Mr Shepherd’s son Tony Leigh, of Front Street, Winston, Darlington, who has previously been banned from carrying waste as part of his business operations, admitted operating a regulated facility without a licence and received a six month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

Raymond Shepherd, who has since been released from jail, and Albert Hill Skip Hire, which operated out of Dodsworth Street, Darlington, was described in the trial as not caring about the environment or the law, instead only caring about “making money”.