Grandfather Fined for Dropping Cigarette in Street

A GRANDFATHER has been hit with a bill of more than £300 after being found guilty of chucking a cigarette end from his car.

Edward McGovern, of Freehold Street, Quorn, was prosecuted by Charnwood Borough Council at Leicester Magistrates’ Court over a charge of littering.

A Council street warden was on patrol outside Bradleys shop on Station Street, Quorn, on April 20, 2011, when he saw McGovern drop the cigarette out of his car window.

McGovern, who represented himself in court, said he did not have any recollection of smoking on the day in question.

But the warden told magistrates he had photographed the car and the owner, McGovern, was traced through DVLA records. A Fixed Penalty Notice of £80 was sent but McGovern failed to pay.

McGovern said he was collecting his partner from shops and claimed he rarely smokes because he suffers from asthma. He also said he did not like the odour of cigarette smoke in his car because he has a young grandson who often travels in his car.

McGovern did admit that he smoked at least once a week and that the car in question was his. He also conceded that he probably was smoking on the day in question but that he could not remember smoking in his car.

Magistrates fined McGovern £100 plus £220.38 costs and ordered him to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Councillor Jane Hunt, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Regulatory Services, said: “Cigarette ends blight our town centres and it is important that people know we will prosecute those who think they can use our streets as a litter bin.

“We are very proud of our clean streets and open spaces and we intend to keep them that way. We will not tolerate littering of any kind so I ask you to please respect your Borough and bin your litter.”