COURT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME

Erewash Borough Council has successfully prosecuted four people in recent months for environmental offences that have a detrimental effect on the borough. Three of these were people who dropped cigarette ends and one was a dog owner who failed to pick up his pet’s mess. All four were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices by the council’s neighbourhood wardens which they failed to pay meaning the cases were taken to court.

They are:

Penelope Merrick, 60, of Portland Street, Sawley was found guilty of a littering offence. She failed to pick up a cigarette end she dropped in High Street, Long Eaton. A fixed penalty notice was issued by the council’s neighbourhood warden but payment wasn’t received. 

The case was heard at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 8 May 2019 where Merrick was ordered to pay a total of £377.50 (a £220 fine, a victim surcharge of £30 and the council’s full costs of £127.50). 

Robert Anderson, 51, of Tamworth Road, Long Eaton was found guilty of a dog fouling offence. On 9 September 2018 his dog fouled on the West Park events field and Anderson did not pick it up. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice by the council’s neighbourhood warden but payment wasn’t received. The case was heard at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 12 June where he was ordered to pay a total of £377.50 (a fine of £220, a £30 victim surcharge and the council’s full costs of £127.50). 

Toby Connelly, 19, of Gregory Street, Ilkeston was found guilty of a littering offence contrary to the Environmental Protection Act 1990. On 20 July, 2018 he dropped a cigarette end from a car on Chalons Way, Ilkeston. A fixed penalty notice was issued but payment wasn’t received. At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 17 April he was ordered to pay a total of £407 (a £220 fine, a £30 victim surcharge and the council’s full costs of £157).

Thomas Walker, 24, of Flanderwell Avenue, Rotherham was made to pay a total of £407 after being found guilty of a littering offence. On 23 July, 2018 he dropped a cigarette end from a vehicle in Stanton Road, Ilkeston. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice but payment wasn’t received. At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 17 April he was ordered to pay a fine of £220, a £30 victim surcharge and the council’s full costs of £157. 

Councillor Garry Hickton, Lead Member for Environment at Erewash Borough Council, says:

“These latest prosecutions act as a reminder to people that environmental crime, such as not picking up your dog’s mess, and dropping cigarette ends, will not be tolerated in Erewash. If Fixed Penalty Notices are ignored we won’t hesitate in taking the perpetrator to court, which will end up costing them a lot more.”