September Littering Prosecutions

Legal action by Thanet District Council has seen magistrates hand out over £2,400 worth of fines and costs to eight local litterers. Littering Prosecutions took place on Tuesday 20 September 2016 at Canterbury Magistrates’ Court as part of the council’s clampdown on people littering in the district.

Each offender was initially given a fixed penalty notice of £80; but despite receiving two warning letters after missing the given deadline, all eight persisted to ignore the fine. The cases were then taken to court.

Five out of the eight defendants failed to attend their hearing, so in their absence were found guilty based on the provided evidence. The remaining three did not attend court but did contact the court putting forward mitigating circumstances.  The magistrates took this into consideration when passing sentences.

Councillor Suzanne Brimm, Cabinet Member for Operational Services said: “The issue of littering should be taken very seriously, those who do it should think about the knock-off effect it has on others and our environment. Prosecutions take up a lot of time and money, but if that’s what it takes to make Thanet the best possible place for our residents, we will do it.

The council provides over 380 litter bins on Thanet’s streets, 100 in the district’s parks and open spaces and an additional 200 on the beaches and promenades during the summer. If residents or visitors are unable to find a bin then they should take their rubbish home with them.”

Found guilty of littering in court absence (Each listed below have been fined £220 along with £120 costs and £22 victim surcharge. Total bill each: £362):

1. Dawn Brown, 59 of  Mildred Road, Erith
2. Denisa Gadzsorova, 29 of Ethelbert Crescent, Margate
3. Paul Comley, 60 of Sanger Close, Margate
4. Kerry Winter, 30 of Ethelbert Crescent, Margate
5. Paul Lacey, 43 of Marine Crescent, Folkestone

Mitigating circumstances

1. Paul Bowman, 49, of Trinity Square, Margate. Fined £150 with £120 costs and £20 victim surcharge. Total: £290
2. Anthony Hayward, 72, of Hardres Street, Ramsgate. Fined £80 with £0 costs and £20 victim surcharge. Total: £100
3. Craig McGowan, 24, of Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate. Fined £80 with £147 costs £120 and £20 victim surcharge. Total: £287

Remember…

• There will be no warnings  – if you drop litter (including cigarette butts or chewing gum) you will be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80
• Not having a bin to hand is not an excuse for littering
• The offence is complete once the item is deposited and left
• Placing a cigarette end down a drain is still an offence which will result in a fine
• That you can use bins without ashtrays, extinguish the cigarette first, then place it in the bin
• If a littering case goes to court, an offender risks receiving a fine of up to £2,500