Waste dumped near school lands offender with 40-hour community order

Monday, 6 March 2023 18:01

The dumper of waste near a primary school in the Bordesley and Highgate ward has been given a 40-hour community order as punishment for their offences following a prosecution brought by the council.

Javeed Ahmadzai, aged 25 of Eversley Road, pleaded guilty to three offences at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court after CCTV caught waste being offloaded from a van on Lowe Street, near St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, on 17 June, 20 June and 12 July 2021.

Waste including rotten herbs, vegetables, fruit trays, cardboard boxes and pallets were amongst the materials deposited on the road during the incidents.

The cameras caught the van’s registration plate and enquiries by the council’s waste enforcement team led investigating officers to a man whose name the vehicle was registered in. When quizzed, he said he didn’t drive the van, but his son (Javeed Ahmadzai) did.

A demand for information on who was in charge of the vehicle and the driver on the three dates in question was subsequently issued, and Ahmadzai confirmed he was the driver.

He was then invited to an interview under caution but refused to take part once he had spoken to his solicitor.

At a hearing on 3 March 2023, his guilty plea covered three offences of permitting the waste to be dumped on the three dates, in contravention of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

As well as receiving the 40-hour community order (reduced from 60 hours in credit for an early guilty plea), Ahmadzai was told by Magistrates to pay £900 in costs (of which £540 covered the clean-up of the dumped waste) and a further £85 victim surcharge.

Cllr Majid Mahmood, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “It is saddening that people think it is acceptable to dump waste anywhere in our city – but to do so on a road near one of our primary schools is outrageous.

“This case clearly shows that when we have the evidence that enables us to investigate, we will prosecute those who have a blatant disregard for Birmingham’s environment.

“I am pleased Magistrates have issued a community order because this means the offender now has to repay society for their actions. The message is clear – fly-tipping really isn’t worth it.”

Anyone with any information on any illegally-dumped waste in Birmingham should contact the council via www.birmingham.gov.uk/flytipping