Eight smokers who threw cigarette ends on the ground in the North East have been named and shamed and hit with hefty fines totalling more than £4500.

The prosecutions were brought by Sunderland City Council and the fines were imposed at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (July 4).

In each incident, Neighbourhood Wardens in Sunderland witnessed the defendants depositing a cigarette onto the ground and walking away - which have now landed them fines totalling £4714.

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The prosecutions came after each defendant was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice for £150 for littering but failed to pay.

This led to their cases being taken to Magistrates' Court for prosecution.

All defendants failed to attend the hearing, but magistrates found them guilty in absence on Tuesday.  

The following defendants were fined £220 and were ordered to pay costs of £235 and a victim surcharge of £88, totalling £543 each:

  • Joanne Stephenson, of Roche Court, Washington
  • Pauline Pearson, of Davison Terrace, Sunderland
  • Naomi Slater, of Alpine Court, Chester-le-Street
  • Patricia Johnson, of East Grove, Sunderland
  • Patryk Rejnat, of Queensbury Street, Millfield
  • Daniel Godfrey, of Baden Street, Hartlepool

Bethany Wilkinson, of Noble Street, Hendon was witnessed by a Neighbourhood Warden depositing two cigarettes on the ground and walking away on High Street West in the city centre.

She was fined £264, due to aggravating features and ordered to pay costs of £235 and a victim surcharge of £106, totalling £605.

Brian Mason, of Burn Park Road, was witnessed by a Neighbourhood Warden throwing a cigarette down the drain and refusing to provide personal details to the authorised officer when requested.

He was found guilty of the offence of littering and failing to provide details to an authorised officer and fined £440.

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He was also ordered to pay costs of £235 and a victim surcharge of £176, totalling £851.00.

Following the prosecutions, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council and cabinet member for clean, green city, Councillor Claire Rowntree, said: "Anyone who fails to dispose of litter responsibly risks a fixed penalty notice of £150 and can be taken to court if they fail to pay.
"Residents tell us that they want to live in a clean and green city, so we take action where we see people littering and damaging the environment.

"These large fines show that magistrates also take a dim view of people who spoil the environment in this way, and I hope it will encourage people to dispose of their rubbish responsibly in future."