Court orders litter louts to pay £7,000
MORE than 20 people have been fined hundreds of pounds after being caught littering in Sefton.
Residents from around the borough and as far as Bedford were prosecuted after dropping items including cigarette butts, a plastic cup and a piece of paper.
Twenty-two people were convicted of littering offences at South Sefton Magistrates’ Court in Bootle on Tuesday, August 22, Tuesday, August 29, and Tuesday, September 5.
Of those 22, only one person, 18-year-old Chelsea Rebecca Owen of Crosby Road South, Waterloo, appeared in court to plead guilty. The rest were convicted in their absence.
All those convicted had been given fines on the spot after being seen dropping items by enforcement officers.
They were originally given 10 days to pay a £60 fine, rising to £75 if paid between 10 and 14 days.
After failing to do that, they were sent a letter giving additional time to pay that higher amount, before being sent a final letter demanding £125.
After ignoring that final chance, the matter was moved to the courts and means each offender must pay the £125 plus the council’s costs and a victim surcharge.
The total fines given to each person ranged between £322 and £422 and adds up to more than £7,000 combined.
Of those convicted, several involved cigarette butts being dropped in Chapel Street in Southport.
A spokesman for Sefton Council said:
“No matter how big or small an item is, dropping litter is an offence.
“Residents and visitors to the borough need to understand that they are responsible for correctly disposing of their own waste and we will not hesitate in following court proceedings for those who simply ignore this.
“Court cases like these highlight what can happen if you are caught and we hope it will make people think twice before just throwing their waste away.
“Either take it home or use a bin.”