Dropped cigarette end costly for Leek man

Published on 24 June 2019

Dropping a cigarette butt in the town centre has cost a Leek man £400.

Philip Abbott, of Ford Street, was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £30 by magistrates after an enforcement officer from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council saw him drop litter on Derby Street on 6 September last year.

The Council took the case to the courts after Mr Abbott failed to pay the fixed penalty fine of £75 issued at the time of the offence despite receiving a reminder.

Councillor Sav Scalise, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: "The fines that dropping litter can attract may seem harsh to some people but the fact is that dropping any litter, including small items like cigarette butts, has consequences for local neighbourhoods.

"The cost of cleaning up after those people that act in this way has to be bourne by the public purse through council tax and the Council will not  tolerate this thoughtless and irresponsible behaviour. We will always seek to take action against individuals who are caught in the act.

"There is no excuse for dropping rubbish and I urge everyone to dispose of their litter either in public litter bins or take it home and put it in the bin there."

Anyone witnessing littering can report via our website - www.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk