Fly-tipper who made ‘stupid decision’ when dumping bags of rubbish on Birmingham street is fined

A fly-tipper made a ‘stupid decision’ when he dumped three big bags of rubbish on a Birmingham street before initially blaming someone else.

Nelu Marius Putulan, aged 55, of Golds Hill Road in Birmingham, pleaded guilty to depositing without an environmental permit of controlled waste on land when he appeared at the city’s magistrates court on Thursday.

The court heard how Romanian national Putulan took three large bags and loose waste from his vehicle on Crick Lane in Birmingham on June 30, 2024.

When he was initially contacted by Birmingham Council, Putulan responded by saying the vehicle was being used by someone else who lived in Sandwell.

The authority then received no response to notices served to the nominated driver before enquiring with Sandwell Council, who said they had no record of the person.

Oladele Osinuga, prosecuting for Birmingham Council, said a fixed penalty notice was issued in May 2025 and when the authority got no response, a non-payment notice was sent the following month.

Mr Osinuga said: “The council prides itself on making Birmingham a clean environment for all.

“The seriousness of this offence is the defendant failed to engage with the council on all occasions and also nominated someone. We don’t know if that person exists or not.”

Hardev Bhomra, defending, said Putulan was in receipt of universal credit and was waiting to receive that in order to pay the penalty.

He added when Putulan received his benefits, he exchanged them for postal orders and sent them to the council. However, the non-payment notice had already been issued.

Mr Bhomra said: “My client accepts he disposed of the rubbish. This was done during the strike period.

“He also accepts he was just moving his problem on to someone else and that is no excuse. This was reckless on my client’s part, a stupid decision by him.

“His mistake was not to contact the council and ask for more time for him to collect his benefits payment.

“He has not ignored this matter and he did try to make payment. He is not a man who comes to court on a regular basis.”

Putulan was fined £400 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £160 and prosecution costs of £1,000.