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AN ANGLING fanatic who won an unprecedented case against Anglian Water Services, one of Britain's worst serial polluters, expressed his dismay yesterday when the water company was let off pounds 140,000 of the penalty.
Roy Hart, who lives on the river Crouch in Essex, said he was "sad" that three Appeal Court judges had reduced the fine for an incident in October 2001, when 200 tons of sewage were discharged from a treatment plant in Wickford into the river. Fish and even a swan living along a two-kilometre (1.25 mile) stretch of the river died.
In an appeal by the company, the judges ruled the initial fine was "manifestly excessive", given that Anglian had pleaded guilty, acted promptly to limit damage and "made sure measures were taken to prevent a reoccurence."
The initial fine of pounds 200,000, awarded in Basildon Crown Court in 2002, was the largest single pollution fine issued last year; the next largest, of pounds 190,000 was also awarded against Anglian Water Services, for an incident on Elstow brook, in Bedfordshire.
The pounds 60,000 penalty left after the ruling is still one of last year's 10...