A man from Southend has been ordered to pay over £500 after he was caught disposing a cigarette from his car window and driving off.

On the 24 January 2023, enforcement officers from Barking and Dagenham Council witnessed the driver of a white Ford Transit Custom drop their cigarette on Porters Avenue.

Following further enquiries with DVLA investigation on the DVLA website, officers discovered that the vehicle belonged to a Mr Neil Cobden of York Road, Southend-On-Sea.

A Fixed Penalty Notice was issued to Mr Cobden as an opportunity to discharge liability from prosecution.

However, Mr Cobden failed to pay the fine despite numerous reminders and the case went to court.

On Tuesday 5 September, Mr Cobden was found guilty in his absence at Barkingside Magistrates Court and ordered to pay a fine of £220, Costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £200 and a Victim Surcharge of £88, totalling £508.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Dropping a cigarette on our streets and highways is littering and we don’t stand for it. Nobody has the right to make the borough’s streets look messy.

“This one cigarette has cost this individual a small fortune. If he had disposed of his cigarette correctly or paid the in initial penalty, he would be £500 better off.”