Smokers must pay £500 litter penalties

A 16-year-old girl who was spotted dropping a cigarette end in Barnsley town centre was given the option of undertaking a supervised litter pick, but failed to do so.

She was instead ordered to pay a fine of £100, plus costs of £150, at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 18.

Five more offenders were also dealt with by the bench on Thursday, January 20.

Callum Peacock of Chilcombe Place, Birdwell, was found guilty of allowing his dog to foul and not picking up afterwards. He had also given fake details to the council officers who stopped him.

In his absence Peacock was found guilty and fined £175, plus court costs of £350.

Michael Crossland, of Stanley Street, Barnsley, was ordered to pay £50 plus £150 costs for dropping a cigarette end.

Maria Brown, of Grange Lane, Cundy Cross, did not attend court but was found guilty of dropping two cigarette ends in her absence. She was fined £260 plus costs of £351.

Christopher Aglington, of Poplar Terrace, Royston, was also found guilty in his absence of dropping a cigarette end outside Barnsley Interchange.

He had been given a fixed penalty of £75, which he had asked to pay in instalments. No instalments were paid, so he was prosecuted. He received a fine of £175 and was ordered to pay full court costs of £353.

Coun Roy Miller, Barnsley Council’s cabinet spokesman for customer and neighbourhood services, said: “Unfortunately some people haven’t learned that we will not accept this type of behaviour in Barnsley. The fines show that magistrates also take this environmental issue seriously.

“I appeal to all residents not to litter or let their animals foul without picking it up afterwards.”