A plumbing and heating company has been fined almost £1,000 after one of its employees was caught dropping a cigarette from the vehicle and driving off.

On 2 April this year, Barking and Dagenham Councill enforcement officers were on duty on Clockhouse Avenue, Barking and observed the driver of a Silver Vauxhall Combo van drop a cigarette on the floor.

Officers checked the registration of the vehicle and discovered that it was owned by JP Plumbs and Heating Ltd of Curtain Road, Hackney and a Driver Identification Notice was issued to identify the driver.

However, as of the 18 May, the business still hadn’t responded therefore committing an offence of failing to comply with a Driver Identification Notice.

The case proceeded to Barkingside Magistrates Court on Tuesday 15 November where the business was found guilty and ordered to pay a £440 fine, £514 in costs to Barking and Dagenham Council and a Victim Surcharge of £44, totalling £998 – due to be paid within 28 days.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Businesses have a responsibility to ensure that their staff respect the places where they work. In this instance, an employee has come into the borough and tried to make our streets look messy by littering.

“I would like to thank the officers involved for being so observant and acting quickly to find out who the business was.”