A smoker who was fined £833 for throwing a cigarette butt down a drain has called his treatment by police “disgraceful”.
Carl Smith was caught throwing away his rollie by a council officer while shopping for clothes in Bromley, south London, on May 23.
The 31-year-old, from New Addington, in Croydon, was taken to court after he refused to pay a £100 on-the-spot fine, insisting it did not count as littering.
He pleaded guilty yesterday at Bromley Magistrates’ Court, with the understanding that he would get a 30 per cent discount on his court costs.
But today he was horrified to discover his fine had been increased eight-fold – and claims the council hadn’t even told him.
Recalling the incident, Mr Smith told MailOnline: “I went to Zara, I went out, I went to another store, I turned it on, I put it down the drain but it told me it was on the pavement.”
“I threw it down a drain and one of the officers attacked me. He grabbed me and hugged me and said, “You’re not going anywhere, I’ll fine you £100 on the spot.”
‘I told him ‘how are you going to give me a fine if you don’t have proof?’ I threw the cigarette down a drain, it’s not trash. He didn’t want me to go anywhere, so he put his arm around me and said “I’m filming you now.”
Carl Smith (pictured) was caught dropping his rollie by a council officer while shopping for clothes in Bromley, south London, on May 23.
Smith appealed and was last week ordered to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court, where he decided to plead guilty in the hope of getting a 30 per cent discount on his court costs.
‘There was a guy who threw an e-cigarette on the ground right in front of him (the police officer) and he didn’t do anything.
“I think it’s embarrassing, really. I’m furious.’
Mr Smith dropped the cigarette butt in Market Square and was fined for breaching Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act.
He stormed Bromley Council offices to complain before receiving a letter in the post ordering him to pay his £100 fine within 31 days, but he refused.
‘When they sent me the letter there was no evidence, I said I’m not paying for it because I didn’t do anything wrong,’ he added.
Smith appealed and was last week ordered to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court, where he decided to plead guilty in the hope of getting a 30 per cent discount on court costs.
But instead the court ordered Mr Smith, who was not present at court, to pay £833, consisting of a £293 fine, £117 surcharge and £423 costs.
Smith was devastated by the news and said he didn’t even know he had been fined until MailOnline approached him.
Bromley Council has prosecuted three people in recent months for littering cigarette butts
He said he will have to pay the fine through a payment plan as he only earns £1,500 a month.
The 31-year-old added: “From a £100 fine to almost £900. That’s eight times the money. It’s embarrassing. That’s how bad Bromley Council is.
‘I don’t know when they are going to get the money. If Bromley Council had done their job properly they would be issuing fines every day, but they aren’t.
‘I shouldn’t have been grabbing people. I think I’m going to appeal.’
Bromley Council has prosecuted 12 people for littering since the beginning of September, with offenders paying £6,129 and warning that more cases could follow for those who do not pay their initial fine.
The city council said they serve as a “warning to others not to throw unwanted items on the street, but rather to place them in a bin or take their rubbish home.”
Last month, a woman in Lewisham and a man in Orpington were ordered to pay £731 for littering cigarette butts in the borough earlier in the year.
Conservative councilor Angela Page, executive adviser for law enforcement and protection, told the Night standard: “We have no desire to prosecute anyone, but littering is a serious problem and a criminal offence, and the costs of street cleaning run into the millions.”
He added: “We encourage everyone to find a bin or take their rubbish home, as we need to put an end to litter in our municipality.” When our enforcement officers witness littering, a fixed penalty notice is issued and court proceedings will be initiated if not paid.’
A Bromley Borough Council spokesperson said: ‘On behalf of residents, the council has street cleaning teams working seven days a week across the borough, keeping our streets clean.
‘Littering undoes this job and is illegal, and our enforcement team issues a fixed penalty notice to anyone seen littering.
“If payment is not received, a process will proceed with fines and costs considerably higher than the established fine.”
Mr Smith pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates’ Court and was ordered to pay a fine of £293, a surcharge of £117 and £423 court costs, racking up a court bill of £833.