SOUTHERN Water has been fined a record £90m for dumping raw sewage into rivers and coastal waters in Hampshire and other parts of the south coast.

The company admitted almost 7,000 illegal discharges from 16 wastewater treatment works between 2010 and 2015, including several sites in the Southampton area.

Up to 21 billion litres of untreated sewage are thought to have flowed into protected waters.

The offences were discovered during the Environment Agency's largest ever criminal investigation, which began after shellfish were found to be contaminated with E. coli.

The case saw all the pollution offences brought together in one prosecution at Canterbury Crown Court.

Mr Justice Johnson said the offences showed a "shocking and wholesale disregard" for the environment, delicate ecosystems in the Solent and other areas, human health and businesses that depended on the vitality of the coastal waters.

He added: "It is necessary to sentence the company for the totality of the offences to which it has pleaded guilty.

"But even that does not reflect the defendant’s criminality. That is because the offences are aggravated by its previous persistent pollution of the environment over very many years.”

The total volume of untreated sewage involved was between 16 and 21 billion litres, equivalent to 7,400 Olympic-sized swimming pools, the court heard.

The sites involved included Ashlett Creek in Fawley, Beaulieu, Millbrook, Portswood, Woolston and Slowhill Copse in Marchwood.

The Environment Agency was alerted after oyster beds in the River Swale, Kent, were found to be contaminated with E. coli, suggesting they had been exposed to untreated sewage.

Water companies are permitted to discharge untreated waste water into the environment during periods of heavy rain to prevent sewers backing up.

However, the Agency found that on thousands of occasions untreated sewage had left Southern Water sites through this route during periods of lower rainfall.

Chair of the Agency, Emma Howard Boyd, said: "With nature in crisis, no one should profit from undermining environmental laws.

"This sentence shows fines for environmental offences are starting to reach the same level as the highest fines for crimes in financial services and that is good.

"There is growing scrutiny of the environmental performance of companies all over the world, this sends an important message to global investors that England expects businesses to perform to the highest standards.

“Like all water companies, Southern Water has a responsibility to operate in accordance with permit conditions and protect against serious pollution.

"In its deliberate, widespread and repeated offending, it has failed the environment, customers and the system of environmental laws the public puts its trust in."

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow added: "The findings in this case were shocking and wholly unacceptable. Water companies should not be letting this happen and those that do will be punished by the full force of the law."

Southern Water's chief executive, Ian McAulay, who joined in 2017, said he was "deeply sorry" for the company's past behaviour.

He added: "The people who rely on us to be custodians of the precious environment in southern England must be able to trust us. What happened historically was completely unacceptable and Southern Water pleaded guilty to the charges in recognition of that fact.

"We have heard what the judge has said today and will reflect closely on the sentence and his remarks.

"We have changed the way we operate.

"We continue to transform across the areas of risk and compliance, measurement and self-reporting. We have made much progress and are continuing to invest to protect the environment and deliver our services safely and at a fair price for our customers.

"Today’s fine will not impact customers’ bills and investment in our transformation will not be reduced. Our shareholders are bearing the cost of the fine."