10 fined as town fights litter and rubbish

Dean Chappell of High Hazel Crescent, Catcliffe, was convicted in his absence of dog fouling at Ferham Park and was fined 65.

Three people were also convicted in their absence of each dropping cigarette ends. Mark Schofield of Leicester Road, Dinnington, was fined 65 and both Steven Thornton of Woodland Drive, North Anston, and Saleem Arif of North Crescent, East Dene, were fined 190 plus costs of 158.74.

Samantha Dexter of Sandhill Road, Rawmarsh, pleaded guilty to dropping a cigarette end on Effingham Street and was fined 115.

Jennifer Louise Moore of Townend Avenue, Aston, also pleaded guilty to dropping a cigarette butt and was fined 140.

Darren Johnson of California Drive, Catcliffe, and Michael Poole of Reresby Road, Thrybergh, both pleaded guilty to fly-tipping at Hollings Lane, Thrybergh.

In mitigation, they both apologised, saying "it was a stupid thing to do" and pointed out they had cleaned up the waste and disposed of it at a legitimate site. They were both fined 215 and ordered to pay 50 costs.

The 10th defendant, Jade Fells of Broom Valley Road, was convicted in her absence of dropping a sandwich wrapper on the Civic car park in Rotherham Town Centre. She was fined 190 and ordered to pay costs of 158.74.

All of the cases were heard at Rotherham Magistrates' Court on Friday, November 19.

Rotherham Council's Cabinet member for housing and neighbourhoods, Jahangir Akhtar, said after the cases: "Tackling litter is a real priority for the authority. Most people do take a pride in their neighbourhood but unfortunately, there are those who don't. If these people are caught committing these offences they will be taken to court."