Woman fined £240 for dropping cigarette wrapper in Barking

A woman who dropped the wrapper of a cigarette packet at Barking station has been fined £240 after the case was taken to court.

Julie Reading, of Lion Hill, Stourport-on-Severn, in Worcestershire, was seen by a council enforcement officer dropping the litter in February this year.

The 45-year-old was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 on the spot.

But when she failed to pay it the case was taken to Romford Magistrates’ Court where she was found guilty of littering.

She was fined £100 and ordered to pay £120 costs with a £20 victims’ surcharge.

Cllr Jeanne Alexander, cabinet member for crime, justice and communities, said: “This case demonstrates that we will not tolerate littering in Barking and Dagenham. Throwing rubbish on the ground, even if it is just a cigarette wrapper, is still an offence.

“We issue fines wherever we can, and if those fines are not paid we will not hesitate to pursue the offenders through the courts.”