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Smokers told to pay £1,300 for throwing cigarette butts on ground

Four smokers have been ordered to pay a total of more than £1,300 after throwing cigarette butts on the ground.

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The three women and a man were initially given on-the-spot £75 fines after being spotted by council officers discarding cigarette ends in Stafford town centre.

But they were hit with heavier penalties after none of them paid up and the cases were brought to court.

Fiona Woodward, aged 27, of Melrose Avenue, Tonia Tolley, 22, of Shepherds Bush Street, and Paula Nevill, 43, of Gray Walk, were ordered to pay fines and costs of £382.15 each after being found guilty in their absence by Stafford magistrates.

Mark Gibson, aged 57, of Conway Road, Doxey, was made to pay a total of £217.15 when he pleaded guilty.

All the offences took place in March and April in Greengate Street, Market Square and Princes Street. Stafford Borough Council spends around £100,000 a year cleaning up litter in the town centre.

After the case, Councillor Frank Finlay, cabinet member for environment and health, said: "If people treat our area as a giant ash tray they should expect to face fines or prosecution.

"I hope the amounts these people will have to pay will send a clear message to any others who throw their cigarette butts onto the streets."

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