Two litterbugs have been prosecuted by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

Mark Thomas, of High Street, Wadhurst, was issued a fixed penalty notice by a council environmental protection officer for dropping a cigarette end outside Tonbridge Station.

He received several reminder letters from the council but failed to pay the notice and was prosecuted at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court.

He did not appear at the hearing but in his absence was found guilty of littering.

Magistrates imposed a fine of £100 and ordered Mr Thomas to pay £100 towards the prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £20.

Ralph Spence of Ralph’s Hairdressing, High Street, West Malling, failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the escape of commercial waste at his business premises.

A trade waste bin had been used but additional sacks of waste had been left beside the bin and subsequently litter had blown across the public car park.

The opportunity to pay clear-up costs was offered to Mr Spence but he declined. In doing this Mr Spence breached a duty of care to ensure waste is properly contained so prosecution was taken.

The case was heard at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court. Spence pleaded guilty to the offence and was issued with a fine of £50, ordered to pay costs of £50 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Cllr Mrs Jill Anderson, cabinet member for housing and environmental services, said: “There can be no excuse for causing litter and Magistrates continue to take such offences very seriously. We know that for the vast majority of Tonbridge and Malling residents littering continues to be a major concern – it looks horrible, is totally unacceptable, damages the local environment and costs the Council (and therefore the taxpayer) more than £1.2m every year to clear up.

"Our message is simple, littering, including throwing cigarette ends on the ground, is a crime and will not be tolerated in this borough. Businesses also have a duty to their local community not to let the waste they produce impact negatively on the environment.”

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