Litter louts are fined by council

NINE litter louts have been left with hundreds of pounds to pay out just before Christmas – and a criminal record.

The offenders were found guilty in their absence of dropping rubbish by Plymouth Magistrates’ Court. Each was fined £220, ordered to pay £200 in costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Plymouth City Council enforcement officers spotted the people leaving litter, usually cigarettes, in streets and a park. The court heard how all of the offenders were given £100 fixed penalty notices by the council’s environmental enforcement officers.

However, despite several reminders, the fixed penalty notices remained unpaid, resulting in a summons to court. The offenders then failed to turn up at court, were found guilty in their absence and fined on the basis of a presumed average income.

Councillor Sally Haydon, cabinet member for customer focus and community safety, said: “Here we are again.

“Nine more people who didn’t get the memo that littering is not tolerated in Plymouth. We just won’t have it. We will continue to punish those who let their fellow residents down with this kind of selfish behaviour.

“Our environmental enforcement officers patrol the streets each day, on the look out for littering, fly-tipping, fly-posting and dog control offences.”

Several residents have also been left with even bigger court bills for putting out rubbish in back lanes days ahead of scheduled collection – which is deemed to be flytipping.