A man who dropped a cigarette butt in Sittingbourne has been told to pay more than £500.

Anthony Nevin, of Reigate Road, Epsom was found guilty by Maidstone magistrates and fined £50, told to pay a £30 victim surcharge and legal costs of £455.

He failed to pay a fixed penalty notice of £80 after he was caught dropping a cigarette in the High Street last year.

He denied littering in March but was found guilty in his absence on May 30.

Emma Wiggins, interim director of regeneration at Swale council, said: “Some people might think that by ignoring the FPN, we’ll forget about their offence and the problem will go away. This prosecution clearly shows that is not the case.

“We’re determined to get the message through that we, and the overwhelming majority of people in the borough, won’t tolerate littering on our streets.”