A Nelson man has been prosecuted and ordered to pay £200 for dropping litter.
Adrian Pitt, of Maes-yr-Onen, was taken to court by Caerphilly County Borough Council after failing to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice fine.
Pitt was issued the fine by council officials for throwing a plastic drinks container out of the window of his parked car into a nearby hedge at Wern Crescent in Nelson.
The case was heard at Caerphilly Magistrates Court on Tuesday March 13. Pitt failed to attend court so the case was proven in his absence.
Pitt was found guilty of the offence under the Environmental Protection Act. He was fined £100, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Rob Hartshorn, head of public protection at Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “Where non-payment of a Fixed Penalty Notice occurs, we pursue the matter through court without exception. I hope that prosecutions such as this show the small minority that failing to take their environmental responsibilities seriously could cost them dearly.
“Mr Pitt should be deeply ashamed of the blatant disregard he has shown for the quality of life in his village, and he has now found himself having to pay a total of £200 for something which could so easily have been avoided.”
Caerphilly Council Officer Robert Hartshorn says:-
“Mr Pitt should be deeply ashamed of the blatant disregard he has shown for the quality of life in his village, and he has now found himself having to pay a total of £200 for something which could so easily have been avoided.”
In this article, the Caerphilly Observer, names and shames this person who is fined for littering, yet, recently when three local Pub Landlords were issued with fines for illegal behaviour under the licencing Act their names were kept secret by Caerphilly Council, Mr Hartshorn was not so forthcoming on that occasion in informing the public of the identity of these landlords who are willing to act in a criminal way in the interest of profit. I wonder why?????
Perhaps he could let us know why?. Why do the Caerphilly council use double standards in these cases, who is protecting who and why??.