A MAN who put up fly posters and refused to pay an £80 fixed penalty has been ordered to pay more than six times the amount by a court.

Terry Blackburn, 23, of Knitsley Walk, Stockton, was fined £300 for five separate offences, plus prosecution costs of £221.55, by Teesside magistrates yesterday.

Blackburn was caught on a mobile security camera fly-posting in Stockton. He elected not to pay the fixed on-the-spot penalty fine.

Stockton Borough council's legal and security services brought the successful prosecution.

Councillor Steve Nelson, cabinet member for the environment, said: "This sends a clear message that fly-posting is unacceptable in Stockton. It detracts from the council's and residents' efforts to make the borough a more attractive place to live and work, and we will be looking to prosecute in all such cases.

"There are legitimate means where businesses can advertise themselves, and fly-posting is not one of them."

Graeme Small, the council's enforcement and security surveillance co-ordinator, said: "Environmental offenders will be exposed, challenged and, where appropriate, put before the courts in order to protect our residents."