\n<\/p>\n
NHS trusts in England terminated contracts with HES over concerns about growing waste stockpiles.<\/p>\n
The Environment Agency launched a criminal investigation, while Scotland’s environmental regulator also took enforcement action.<\/p>\n
Pettigrew consistently denied wrongdoing. He said the problem stemmed from a shortage of incineration capacity across the UK rather than failures by his company.<\/p>\n
In 2023, after criminal proceedings against him were dropped, Pettigrew told BBC Scotland News HES had been made a “public scapegoat” and insisted the prosecution case had been “flawed from day one”.<\/p>\n
Those criminal proceedings, which related to allegations of illegally storing medical waste, including human body parts, were dropped following a review of the evidence.<\/p>\n
Pettigrew subsequently said he intended to pursue legal action and claimed the case had damaged his reputation.<\/p>\n
Evidence heard during that criminal case included claims that contractors clearing the Shotts facility found hundreds of tonnes of accumulated clinical waste, including anatomical material- including the carcass of a penguin which was believed to have come from Edinburgh Zoo.<\/p>\n
The clean-up operation took months and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.<\/p>\n
The director disqualification proceedings were separate from the criminal case.<\/p>\n
The Court of Session’s decision means Pettigrew is barred from acting as a company director or being involved in the management of a company for the period specified by the court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n