A MAN who dumped bags of rotting food and nappies at a notorious fly-tipping spot claimed he did not have time to visit the tip as he had to break the Ramadan fast.

Ijaz Ur Rehman, aged 28, of Lower Rawson Street, Farnworth, dumped 16 bags of rubbish on private land at the back of Starcliffe Street, Moses Gate, which had been cleared at a cost of £29,000.

Bolton magistrates heard Rehman had been rushing to his mother-in-law's home in the road and could not spare five minutes to visit the nearby Raikes Lane tip.

In March, 2006, Bolton Council paid for more than 73 tonnes of rubbish to be shifted from the site during a five-day operation.

However, in October Rehman was driving to Starcliffe Street when his wife reminded him to take the rubbish to Raikes Lane tip.

He realised he had only five minutes to get to his mother-in-law's home to break the fast on time and chose to dump the five black bin bags and 11 plastic bags down an embankment.

Council prosecutor Catherine Waudby told the court two officers were carrying out a patrol at the top of the banking when they found the bags.

Among the waste, they found letters addressed to Rehman.

Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to illegally disposing of controlled waste.

Ajmal Hussain, defending, said Rehman had lived with his mother-in-law in Starcliffe Street for more than a year after moving to the country from Pakistan two years ago.

He knew the land at the back of houses as a dumping ground and did not realise it was illegal.

Mr Hussain said: "Ignorance is never a defence but you have to appreciate the position he's come from."

He said Rehman's intention had been to go to Raikes Lane tip, but that it was important he broke the fast at the right time.

"When it says you have to break your fast at a specific time, you have got to do it," Mr Hussain said.

Magistrate David Thompson said: "We are sympathetic but society is taking a very dim view of people who fly-tip and this was a blatant example of it.

"I understand it was Ramadan and you had time pressures, but there's a very big tip only a few minutes away."

Rehman could have faced a fine of up to £40,000 or six months in jail, but Mr Thompson said he was being lenient, fined him £400 and ordered him to pay £621 costs.