Residents fined as council clamps down on littering

The prosecutions were brought by Sunderland City Council and the fines imposed at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates heard how the defendants were initially issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £150 for littering but failed to pay despite reminder letters.

•            Sharon Tighe, of Hylton Road, Sunderland, was caught throwing a used scratch card into the road from her car on 25 June 2021.
•            Kirsten Townsend of Arundel Road, Farringdon, was fined for dropping a cigarette end on Fawcett Street on 21 June 2021.
•            Claire Thoms of Redditch Square was fined for dropping a cigarette outside of the Galleries shopping centre on 23 June 2021.
•            Kelly Hardy of Balfour Street, Houghton-le-Spring was fined for dropping a cigarette end at Newbottle Street on 5 July 2021.

Because they failed to appear in court, all the cases were found proven in absence with a £220 fine and costs of £235 each.

Lauren Stanness, of Runnymede Road, Redhouse, was fined £660 with costs of £463.20 and a victim surcharge of £66 for failing to assist with an investigation into fly-tipping.

Evidence identified amongst the waste suggested it belonged to Lauren Stannes but despite repeated requests, the defendant failed to cooperate with the council's investigation. Stanness also failed to attend an appointment on the matter. She did not attend court and her case was proven in absence.

A dog walker who breached a Public Space Protection Order by allowing her dog to enter a prohibited designated area also landed a fine.  Claire Gilbert of Tilbury Road allowed her dog onto Roker Beach, which prohibits dogs between 1 May and 30 September with warning signs clearly displayed at entry and exit points.

She pled guilty by post and was fined £56, with costs of £235.00 and a victim surcharge of £34.00.

Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Claire Rowntree said: "Most people manage to dispose of their cigarette ends and rubbish properly. Unfortunately, there is a minority who do not do this, and they run the risk of Fixed Penalty Notices for littering - and if they ignore warning letters, they can face court action.

"These fines show that we are determined to crack down on littering and fly-tipping and that we will not put up with the minority who cannot dispose of their waste properly and legally."

The desire of residents to see more enforcement action was one of the key things to come out of the City Council's Let's Talk consultation in 2020.

In the last two years, 580 people have received Fixed Penalty Notices for littering in Sunderland, of which 94 have been prosecuted for non-payment.

All the revenue generated from fixed penalty notices, including costs and compensation awarded by the courts, is ploughed back into the service and helps pay towards the costs of cleaning up litter and fly-tipping, keeping highways clean, and enforcement against littering graffiti and fly-posting.