Boy's dropped sandwich will cost parents £600

A BOY who dropped a sandwich in the street has landed his parents with a bill of more than £600 after enforcement officers from a Yorkshire council spotted his offence.

The schoolboy, who has not been identified by Barnsley Council, was prosecuted after he was seen dumping the half-eaten sandwich on West Street, in Hoyland, last April.

He was given a fixed penalty notice for 75 but because he was a child, was offered the alternative of completing a two-hour litter pick close to his Elsecar home instead.

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The council said the boy was offered six opportunities to attend a litter pick but failed to attend any of them.

He and his parents then failed to attend two court hearings, one in October and a second hearing earlier this month.

Barnsley magistrates found the child guilty in his absence and sentenced him via his mother to a 250 fine. His parents were also ordered to pay prosecution costs of 368.50 and a victim surcharge of 15, totalling 633.50.

Council litter spokesman Coun Roy Miller said: "I am saddened by this child's parents' inability to accept responsibility for their son's actions.

"Instead of her son spending a couple of hours helping out in the community, the mother now has to pay over 600."