Smokers ordered to pick up the tab for dropping cigarette ends

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

Magistrates heard that in each incident the defendants were witnessed by City Council neighbourhood enforcement officers dropping a cigarette and then walking away.

All were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices for £150, but failed to pay despite several reminder letters, which led to their cases being taken to Magistrates' Court for prosecution.

Because they failed to appear in court, all the cases were found proven in the defendants absence.

In six cases heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on 29 June, each defendant was fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £235.

John Young of Hendon Burn Avenue, Hendon was witnessed dropping a cigarette end in Fawcett Street on 17 November last year.

Lisa Simpson of Padgate Road, Pennywell was witnessed dropping a cigarette end in Market Square, on 19 November last year.

Kelly Phuprate of Marley Crescent, Marley Potts was witnessed dropping a cigarette end in Southwick Road on 25 October last year.

Tony Hoggarth of Gilhurst Grange, Sunderland was witnessed dropping a cigarette end in High Street West, on 12 November last year.

Faihad Almutari  of West Wear Street , Sunderland was witnessed dropping a cigarette end in Market Square on 1 December last year.

Samantha Lewis of Honeysuckle Avenue, South Shields was witnessed dropping a cigarette end in Market Square on 19 November last year.

In a further three cases at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on 5 July, each defendant was fined £200, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £235:

Francesco Soro of Wiltshire Road, Witherwack was witnessed dropping a cigarette end in Crowtree Road on 15 December last year

Suzanne Martin and Georgia Jolley, both of John Williamson Street, South Shields were witnessed dropping cigarette ends in Market Square on 12 December last year.

Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Claire Rowntree, said: "Anyone who fails to dispose of their cigarette ends responsibly risks a fixed penalty notice of £150 and being taken to court if they ignore the warning letters and fail to pay up.

"We know that the environment is very important to our residents who want to live in a clean green city, so we won't hesitate to take action where we see people acting irresponsibly in this way. Magistrates also take a dim view of smokers who litter our city as can be seen from these fines."

In the last two years 835 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued for the offence of littering in Sunderland.