Litter caught throwing cigarettes – but council fines non-smokers 160 miles away

A council fined a non-smoker for dumping cigarettes in the village before officials realized he lived 160 miles away.

Natalie Walton was given a £75 fixed penalty notice (FPN) and threatened with prosecution after being falsely accused of littering in Swanscombe, Dartford, Kent.

However, the 31-year-old was able to prove she had shopped at a B&M store and a Tesco supermarket in Staffordshire on Oct 29, the day of the trial.

Officials were forced to rescind his fine after viewing body-worn camera footage that showed someone else dropped the cigarette.

The notice, dated Nov 12, said a Dartford council officer found him “offending” and warned him he must pay a £75 fine or appeal.

It went on to say: “Since the payment or written challenge has not been received, you will still face the case and the prosecution in the magistrate’s court can start against you immediately. If convicted, you may have to pay a fine of up to £2,500 for littering.”

Mrs Walton said: “I haven’t been to Kent for months. Dartford council tried to fine me £75 for something I wasn’t even there to do.

“It’s a little strange. I was accused of dumping cigarettes in Swanscombe which is frankly nonsense as I don’t smoke and I never went to the address they said I was at.

“I feel that I am a victim of complete fraud. Someone must have stolen my ID or the council’s security measures have been broken and they will take my name and address without proof.”

A spokesman for Dartford council said: “Our police team requested a current photograph of Ms Walton and when we received it, it was compared to the person in the photograph. It was found that it was not Ms Walton and the FPN has now been cancelled.”

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