TEN smokers have been taken to court and ordered to pay fines, costs and victim surcharges totalling £4,050 after being caught dropping cigarette butts.

All had ignored reminders about fixed penalty notices served on them by neighbourhood wardens after they were spotted dropping a cigarette end in Sunderland city centre and walking away.

Nine of the ten failed to attend hearings brought by Sunderland City Council at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on Wednesday, September 8 and the cases were proven in their absence.

The tenth pleaded guilty by post.

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Rebecca Twinn of Oswald Close, Durham, Kerry Ann Moore of Collingwood Street, South Shields, Alisha Savage of Morris Terrace, Houghton Le Spring, and Barbara Ryan of Margaret Street, Seaham, were each fined £150 for littering and ordered to pay £235 costs and a victim surcharge of £34 - after they were spotted dropping cigarette ends in Crowtree Road.

Yvonne Johnson of Ramilies Road, Sunderland, and Stephanie Thornton of Hadleigh Road, were each fined £150 for littering and ordered to pay £115 costs costs and a £34 victim surcharge after being caught dropping cigarette ends in Market Square.

Christina Pickering of Hutton Street, Sunderland, was fined £150 and ordered to pay £235 costs and a £34 victim surcharge after she was seen to drop a cigarette end in Market Square.

Ali Heydrian of Condercum Road, Newcastle, pleaded guilty by post and was fined £150 for littering and ordered to pay £235 costs and a victim surcharge of £34 after he was seen to drop a cigarette end in Crowtree Road.

Claire Louise Bainbridge of Gambia Square, Sunderland, and Katie Innes of Cairo Street, Hendon, were each fined £200 for littering and ordered to pay £235 costs and a £34 victim surcharge after being seen to drop cigarette ends in Market Square. In each case their fine was increased by £50 to £200 for providing false details.

The environment is a top priority for our residents .... it's only right that we should take action against the irresponsible minority who spoil things for everyone else

Councillor Claire Rowntree, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "I hope that these fines send out a strong message that people can expect to be fined and potentially taken to court of we catch them dropping litter.

"I'm also really pleased that the courts take this matter seriously.

"We know that the environment is a top priority for our residents and that the vast majority of people in Sunderland take a real pride in where they live, so it's only right that we should take action against the irresponsible minority who spoil things for everyone else."

 

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