A TEENAGER has been ordered to spend 12 hours working for the community after dropping a cigarette butt.

Jamie Roy Marriott, 18, was given the unconventional sentence after he told the bench at Darlington Youth Court yesterday he was unemployed and did not have any money to pay a fine.

Initially, magistrates found Marriott, of Stooperdale Avenue, in Cockerton, Darlington, guilty in his absence because he failed to attend his 10am appearance, and fined him £75 with £75.45 costs.

However, when Marriott turned up two hours later, magistrates accepted his guilty plea and decided to re-sentence him.

At the first hearing, Darlington Borough Council solicitor Yvonne Rennard told the court Marriott had been given a fixed penalty ticket by a uniformed council warden after he was seen to drop a cigarette butt and walk away.

The offence took place outside Mowden shops, in Fulthorpe Avenue, Mowden, on March 20.

When the fine remained unpaid, reminder letters and a final warning were issued, but the council had not received money due, Ms Rennard said.

When he did attend court, Marriott pleaded guilty to dropping litter but, when asked by chairwoman of the bench Aileen Little how he would pay the fine, said he was unemployed and relied on his mother to give him money.

He said: "I am sorry for being late and wasting your time. I am sorry for what I've done."

Sentencing him to pay £30 costs and work 12 reparation hours, Ms Little said: "It would have been a much more expensive cigarette end if you hadn't turned up."

After the case, a council spokeswoman said: "In September, we were one of ten councils across the country chosen to take part in a national campaign to cut down on cigarette litter.

"During the fortnight-long campaign, we gave away hundreds of disposable ashtrays to smokers.

"We do take littering very seriously as it has such a negative impact on the town and the environment we all live and work in.

"The fine for littering is £75 and anyone who does not pay their fine will be taken to court."