Littering leaves Dover resident £475 out of pocket

Anthon Bledi of Folkestone Road, Dover is £475 out of pocket having been found guilty by Dover Magistrates on 24 April 2014 of littering and providing a false address in a case brought by Dover District Council.

The Court imposed a fine of £55 for littering along with a £20 victim surcharge, and ordered Mr Bledi to pay costs of £400. In addition, he was given a six month conditional discharge for providing a false address to an authorised officer.

A Dover District Council Environmental Enforcement Officer observed Mr Bledi discard a cigarette on Biggin Street, Dover on 16 September 2013. When asked for his name and address Mr Bledi provided an address that was later proven not to be his place of residence at the time of the offence. Dover District Council took the case to court when Mr Bledi failed to pay the fixed penalty notice.

At the first hearing at Canterbury Magistrates Court on 25 March 2014, Mr Bledi pleaded not guilty to the littering offence. A trial date was set for Dover Magistrates Court on 24 April 2014. Mr Bledi attended court and immediately prior to the case being heard changed his plea to guilty for both offences.

A Dover District Council spokesman said: "This case demonstrates our robust approach to enforcement. We will not hesitate to take legal action against those who are witnessed littering, and who seek to avoid payment of fixed penalty notices by providing false information."