Five men convicted of bribery ordered to pay back more than £365,000 to Cardiff Council

Five men convicted of bribery have been ordered to pay back more than £365,000 to Cardiff Council.

In November 2023, Andrew Barnett, Warren Roberts and Cesario Debreau were jailed following an investigation into corruption at Bessemer Close Commercial Recycling Centre, a waste management facility run by Cardiff City Council.

Josh Hayman and Anthony Miles received suspended prison sentences for their part in the illegal activity.

Now, following a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, all five have been ordered to pay back the money they earned from their crimes.

Each has three months to pay the following amount or risk being sent to jail:

Warren Roberts, 57, from Penylan	£252,027.40
Andrew Barnett, 56, from Penarth	£42,894.47
Cesario Debreau, 36, from Pentwyn	£42,894.47
Anthony Miles, 58, from Penarth	£17,005.95
Josh Hayman, 33, from Tredegar	£9,327.93

The total amount of £364,150.22 will be repatriated to Cardiff Council.

Officer in the case, Detective Constable Joseph Lewis, from South Wales Police, said:

“South Wales Police’s financial investigation in this case was detailed and proactive, leading to a significant amount of assets belonging to the defendants being identified, frozen and recovered.

“This was a complex process that involved the engagement of a forensic accountant to enable us to ascertain the value of the benefit to both Warren Roberts and the council staff he paid bribes to.

"This outcome demonstrates our determination to go after the proceeds of crime and stop those involved in corrupt activity from benefitting financially even after they have been convicted.”

The corrupt activity came to Cardiff Council’s attention when a whistle blower alleged corruption within the Waste Management Division.

It was alleged that Warren Roberts, the controller of waste disposal company A&T Waste Management, was paying bribes to Cardiff Council staff to misrepresent the type or amount of waste being deposited at the site to reduce A&T’s billed amount.

As a result, A&T were saving a significant amount of money in their operating costs in the form of tipping fees. In return staff were being paid cash for their participation in this offence.

The convictions, believed to be the first obtained by South Wales Police under the new Bribery Act, followed a complex and protracted investigation which began in 2017.

A council spokesperson said:

“This incident represents a theft from the taxpayers of Cardiff, and it’s important to tax payers that justice is served.

“When these concerns were brought to our attention by a whistleblower, we acted swiftly to report them to South Wales Police. The investigation, which began in 2017, revealed significant corruption involving the misrepresentation of waste types and amounts to reduce billing costs for A&T Waste Management. This illegal activity resulted in substantial financial losses for the council and, by extension, the taxpayers.

“The convictions and subsequent Proceeds of Crime Act hearing have ensured that those responsible are held accountable and that the council is repatriated with the funds obtained through these crimes. This outcome is a testament to our commitment to protecting public resources and maintaining the trust of our community.

“In response to this incident, we have conducted a comprehensive review of our Waste Management Division and implemented a series of robust measures to prevent any similar occurrences in the future. These measures include enhanced oversight, stricter controls, and improved training for our staff to ensure the highest standards of integrity and transparency in our operations.

“We will not tolerate any form of corruption and remain dedicated to safeguarding taxpayer interests and upholding the integrity of our operations.”