A driver was forced to fork out £600 for a McDonald’s coffee – after he was caught throwing it on the floor.
David Davies, 26, was caught on camera hurling the £1.59 coffee out from the window of his Ford Fiesta before driving off.
A court heard a passerby had their camera phone out and managed to film the litterbug tossing the empty cup aside.
Davies signed a fixed penalty notice indicating he admitted littering in Heol y Neuadd in Tumble, Carmarthenshire.
But his £75 fine was doubled when he failed to pay in time forcing his case to go to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court – which he failed to turn up to.
Davies, from Bedwellty Road, Cefn Fforest, was fined £150 and ordered to pay £458 in costs as well as a £30 victim surcharge.
Good, fine should have been higher. Pity we don’t see the same actions here in the county.
Expensive coffee !
Is it legal for a member of the public to film this on their phone ?
What about data protection ?
Ah! That matter is probably meat and veg for lawyers. My understanding, as a non lawyer, is that you may film anyone in a public space as they may reasonably expect to be in view of anyone also present at that place.
It then can get complicated, is the recording being used for harassment? Are children being filmed? Is the film being used for sexual gratification of the camera operator? Is the camera operator going to sell the recording?
These are just a few of the situations that come to mind. I think the case in point here was legitimate. the passer by filmed an ilegal act as evidence for police and the court to secure a conviction. But to be on the safe side I would advise people not to film strangers – it’s just plain rude unless they are happy for you to do so.
Agree that in this instance it was an act of being a good citizen.
Yes, I think you’re right about it being not wise to film strangers – sooner or later someone is likely to take offence and physically retaliate !
Excellent. Having recently moved into the area I am utterly depressed by how much litter is present in the Valleys. It is shameful for us all. I have been reduced to buying a litter picker myself to try to reduce the levels a little. You can sum up Caerphilly Council’s attitude to it all by how much litter is present in Penallta Parc right next to the Council offices, a park where many Council employees take their lunchtime walk right past all the cans and crisp packets.
Break into somebodies property, cause thousands of pounds worth damage, steal somebodies possessions and it’s nothing more than a slap on the wrist from plod …….drop a coffee cup on the floor and it’s a £150 fine, £458 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. The law in the UK is total and utter cobblers.
I do agree that sentences are inequitable in Britain, burglary often seems to be treated almost as something that is merely an insurance matter. In this case the actual offence only warranted a £75 fixed penalty. It was the failure to pay after admitting the offense followed by failure to turn up to the magistrates court that led to the escalation in cost.