Fraud-accused former Southern Water boss in court

The former chief executive of Southern Water has appeared in court charged with conspiracy to defraud, over allegations water quality tests were manipulated to avoid penalties.

Matthew Wright, 60, who denies any wrongdoing, appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Friday alongside three other former employees.

Wright, along with Philip Barker, 57, Clive Massey, 64, and Mark Gregory, 63, are accused of conspiracy to defraud the Environment Agency and water regulator Ofwat.

It is alleged that between January 2012 and December 2017, the group manipulated a self-monitoring regime by carrying out artificial "no-flow events" at wastewater treatment works, to avoid failing environmental checks.

The alleged conduct could have avoided fines of £45m or higher, according to the charges.

Barker, Massey and Gregory were officers or senior operations managers at Southern Water at the time of the alleged offences, a previous High Court ruling states.

Southern Water has separately been charged with dozens of offences of failing to comply with environmental permit conditions.

Three further defendants - Mark Butler, 45, David James, 58, and Terry Stephens, 67 - also appeared in court on Friday accused of the same offence.

District Judge Stephen Leake said he was satisfied the charges were "related" and sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court, where the defendants will appear on 9 October.

Wright, Gregory and Butler appeared in person, while the others attended via video link. All seven were granted unconditional bail.

Wright denies any wrongdoing and has cooperated with the Environment Agency's investigation, his solicitor said after an earlier High Court hearing.

Southern Water supplies water and wastewater services to more than four million customers across Hampshire, Kent, Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

Wastewater treatment works can only operate with an environmental permit issued by the Environment Agency.

Since 2009, treated effluent has been tested under an "operator self-monitoring" scheme, with unannounced checks carried out by teams operating separately from those running the works.

Results are shared with the Environment Agency and Ofwat, with penalties imposed if permit conditions are not met - unless the flow at the time of testing is too low to take a sample, known as a "no-flow event", which is not recorded as a failure.

Wright joined Southern Water from United Utilities in 2011 and left in December 2016.

He went on to become managing director of offshore wind company Orsted and later held senior roles at other energy companies.