Joanna Watson, 39, of Western Road, Lancing, said she could not afford to pay the £75 fixed penalty notice she was given after the incident near the Aquarena, in Brighton Road, in May.

Because she did not pay, Worthing Council took her to court for littering which, on Friday, resulted in Mrs Watson being fined £75 and ordered to pay £65 costs.

Embarrassed

Mrs Watson said: "I unfortunately have financial difficulties.

"The law is the law and it should be upheld.

"The fine should have been paid but £75 is a lot of money when you are trying to pay off debts and trying to live."

Mrs Watson said she was "embarrassed" about the offence and did explain her situation, asking if she could pay the fine in instalments.

Threw cigarette

The incident was reported on May 14 after a solicitor formerly employed by Worthing Council saw Mrs Watson throw the cigarette end from the car window while they were queuing in traffic near the Aquarena.

Mrs Watson said she was told she did not have to attend the hearing at Worthing Magistrates' Court on Friday, August 29, and so she pleaded guilty by post.

She said: "I don't remember the incident, but I pleaded guilty because I have done it before – lots of people have. I was in a lose/lose situation."

Mrs Watson said she was disappointed the council had released information about the case.

Not told

She said: "I have had no notification of the result of the case. This is so unfair. I am a carer in the community."

Paul Willis, Worthing and Adur's waste strategy manager, said: "Littering is unacceptable in any form.

"Although a cigarette end might appear to be trivial on its own, if you think about the fact that person might have done it three or four times that day, it soon builds up.

"Cigarette ends are the most dropped pieces of litter of anything."

What do you think?

Was this fine too harsh?

How often have you done the same thing?

Do you think littering is a crime to be clamped down on?

Share your views, comment in the space below, email the Herald or write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.
Comments are reviewed before appearing on the website.


-------------------------------------
Click here to go back to Worthing news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: letters@worthingherald.co.uk