Man fined for using wrong bin says it was ‘entrapment’
Video showing confrontation with litter warden goes viral
A video showing a man confronting a litter warden who fined him for putting a cigarette in a bin has gone viral.
The footage shows Joshua Douglas challenging the council worker in Maidstone High Street after being handed the £80 fine.
Mr Douglas was issued the fine outside his workplace, Pops’ Cafe, after stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray. It turned out the bin was ‘out of service’ because it is blocked-off by scaffolding, preventing council workers from emptying it.
The 25-year-old said: “It was outside my work, he [the warden] followed me in and wouldn’t leave. He said he would call the police and I either had to give my details or be detained.
“When I got fined the top was completely open with butts and rubbish inside. No sign saying not in use. I cannot comprehend how that is littering in any way or why they would actually take it this far.” In the video, which has been seen more than 50,000 times, Mr Douglas says: “Maidstone council has blocked off the bin next to the bus stops so all the busmen that come to smoke their fags no longer have a bin to put it in.” He then confronts the council officer, asking why he is ‘guarding’ the bin. During the one-minute exchange, the warden says he is just doing his job and repeatedly threatens to call the police. The ashtray has since been covered and signs have been put up warning people not to use it.
A Maidstone Borough Council spokesman said it would not comment on individual cases, adding: “We can confirm that a litter bin in the High Street near TSB bank was sealed earlier this week due to scaffolding obstruct- ing its use and MBC operatives being unable to empty it.”
Mr Douglas said he would fight the fine in court: “He [the warden] watched me finish my cigarette and then came over. I didn’t even leave the stub in the bin, I took it in with me. It’s pure entrapment.”
See the video at tinyurl.com/ cigbuttfine