HILLINGDON smokers caught dropping their cigarette butts are being hauled into court for being litter louts.
More than a dozen offenders were found guilty of littering at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, despite 12 defendants failing to appear.
Mohammed Akhtar Zafar, of Park Lane, Hayes, pleaded guilty in court and was fined £100 and ordered to pay £75 costs.
A combined total of £3,895 was levied for the offences that took place between September and November.
Jean Palmer, council deputy chief executive, said: “Throwing rubbish of any kind shows complete disregard to others. No-one wants to live in a dirty borough. We should be taking pride in where we live.”
The scheme to issue fixed penalty notices for littering was launched in September to take a tougher stance on the issue.
Anyone caught dropping litter risks getting a £50 fixed penalty notice. If they fail to pay their fine within two weeks the fine goes up to £80 and further failure could then lead to court action.
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