Trio fined nearly £450 each for dropping cigarette butts in Christchurch

The trio – Marcus Eaton, Bethany Sims and Siobham Sims – were caught littering in April this year.

Eaton, from Yew Tree Court in Newlands Road, New Milton, was caught at Highcliffe Cliff Top car park and Bethany Sims, of Riversmeet Court, Stony Lane South and Siobham Sims of Troak Close were both caught in Christchurch High Street.

They were each fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £339 and a victim surcharge of £20, when they appeared at Bournemouth Magistrates Court on August 21.

They were originally given Fixed Penalty Notices which they failed to pay on time despite two reminders.

Keith Mallett, head of legal and democratic services at the Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership, said: “These fines show that we’re not prepared to tolerate people who litter on our streets, whether it is with a cigarette butt or anything else.

“These people had the opportunity to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice of £75 which they ignored, so it has cost them much more.

“A lot of money is spent by the council on street sweeping, money which could be used to a much better purpose if people didn’t drop litter.”

Cllr Ray Nottage, leader of Christchurch Borough Council, said: “Christchurch is a beautiful place and we want it to stay that way. The simple message to anyone is ‘please do not litter our streets and recreation areas – there are bins to put your rubbish in or you can take it home and dispose of it properly without spoiling our town’.”