Wellingborough man fined £400 for throwing litter from a car window

A Wellingborough man has been fined £400 for throwing litter from a car window.

'Drop your litter and face the consequences' is the stark message from East Northamptonshire Council (ENC) which has recently prosecuted a driver for such an offence.

Back in January, an ENC environmental services officer witnessed the driver throw an empty cigarette packet out of his car window in Kettering Road, Thrapston.

The driver was identified as Ryan Potticary, 26, of Wellingborough and was offered a fixed penalty notice of £150 (reduced to £100 if paid within 10 days).

Despite reminders being sent, he failed to pay the fine and was then referred to court where he was offered the opportunity to enter a plea by post.

Again, he failed to reply so the case went to Northampton Magistrates Court in August.

Potticary did not attend but was found guilty and received a £402 fine (£220 fine plus a £32 victim surcharge and £150 costs).

Leader of East Northants Council Steven North said: “All littering is an offence no matter what it is and we all need to take responsibility by using a bin or taking our rubbish home.

"And that’s not just to avoid a fine but to protect where we live, work, play and drive.

“I hope that this case serves as a warning that we will hold those who litter to account and we will pursue through the courts, if necessary.

"Avoid that hefty fine and do the right thing - bin it.”

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