A group of litterers have been fined a combined total of more than £3,000 after dropping cigarette butts.

The 10 cases of littering, one of which involved a coffee cup being dumped into a trolley, all took place across Medway in November last year, with each offender failing to pay a fixed penalty notice (FPN).

Cllr Alex Paterson, portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, said: “These cases send the message that if you drop litter in Medway then you face the very real risk of being prosecuted.

“Littering in Medway is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

“For as long as a small minority continue to do it, I will make no apology for using these powers on behalf of the law-abiding majority, and in support of those who help maintain our public spaces and keep Medway tidy.”

Nine of the cases were heard through the single justice procedure (SJP) process at East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court in July.

The offenders were each ordered to pay £304 after failing to pay a FPN.

Alina Dolia, 33, of Meadow Bank Road, Chatham, was seen dropping a cigarette butt on the ground in Chatham High Street and leaving it on November 21.

Kerry Evans, 45, of Palmerston Road, Chatham, was seen dropping a cigarette on the ground at The Brook in Chatham and leaving it on November 22.

Liberty Francis, 19, of Keyes Avenue, Chatham, was seen dropping a cigarette butt onto the ground in Chatham High Street and leaving it on November 21.

Sarah Jordan, 35, of Shipwrights Avenue, Chatham, was seen dropping a cigarette butt onto the ground at The Brook in Chatham and leaving it on November 30.

Natalie Palfreyman, 39, of Hazlemere Drive, Gillingham, was seen dropping coffee cup packaging into a trolley in Duncan Road in Gillingham and leaving it on November 24.

Mary Taylor, 49, of Cavendish Avenue, Gillingham, was seen dropping a cigarette butt onto the ground in Gillingham Road in Gillingham, and leaving it on November 24.

Jacqueline Tutty, 50, of Cornwallis Avenue, Gillingham, was seen dropping a cigarette butt onto the ground in Duncan Road in Gillingham and leaving it on November 22.

Zilvinas Zaltauskas, 27, of Parr Avenue, Gillingham, was seen dropping a cigarette butt onto the ground in Maidstone Road in Chatham and leaving it in a car park on November 23.

Pamela Zupkova, 25, of Salisbury Road, Chatham, was seen dropping a cigarette butt onto the ground in Gillingham High Street and leaving it on November 24.

Declan Hawker returned a not guilty plea and his case was heard at Medway Magistrates’ Court this month.

The 53-year-old, of Gillingham Road, Gillingham, was ordered to pay £430 after failing to pay a FPN after he was seen dropping a cigarette butt in Gillingham High Street and leaving it on November 30.

The offenders racked up a total of £3,166 in fines.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows authorised officers to issue fixed penalty notices on any land the public has access to.

The litter enforcement agents patrol across Medway including in high streets, green spaces, and supermarket car parks.

The SJP allows defendants, prosecutors and courts to reach a resolution to minor offences without having to attend court.