The former chief executive of Southern Water has appeared in court alongside former colleagues—including three residents of West Sussex—to face charges of conspiracy to defraud following an investigation into the manipulation of water quality tests.
Matthew Wright, 60, appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 11 September 2026. He is accused of conspiring to defraud the Environment Agency and the water regulator Ofwat between January 2012 and December 2017.
The prosecution, brought by the Environment Agency, alleges that the defendants participated in a plot to create “artificial no-flow events” at wastewater treatment works. It is claimed these measures were designed to bypass environmental checks and quality standards, effectively avoiding fines estimated to be in the region of £45 million.
Among the defendants appearing in court were three West Sussex residents: Philip Barker, 57; Mark Butler, 45; and David James, 58. Southern Water is the monopoly provider of wastewater services for Bognor Regis and the wider Arun district, and the charges relate to the period when the company was under the leadership of the accused.
The court heard that the alleged activity was a “carefully planned” effort to mislead regulators.
According to official statements from the Environment Agency, Southern Water itself is also facing dozens of separate charges relating to breaches of environmental permits during the same five-year window. This follows a previous record fine of £90 million handed to the company in 2021 for related historical pollution incidents.
District Judge Stephen Leake sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court, where a hearing is scheduled to take place on 9 October 2026.
All defendants, including Mr Wright and the three West Sussex residents, were granted unconditional bail. Under UK law, the maximum sentence for conspiracy to defraud is 10 years’ imprisonment.
Southern Water continues to provide wastewater services to homes across the region. No details were provided during the initial hearing regarding which specific treatment sites in West Sussex may have been involved in the alleged “no-flow” events.
