Man in court after being caught dropping litter for the second time

A GWENDRAETH Valley man has been prosecuted in court after being caught dropping litter for the second time.

Steven Paul McLoughlin, aged 20, of Heol Nazareth, Pontyates, pleaded guilty at Carmarthen Magistrates Court to an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.

The court heard that on Sunday, July 8 council environmental enforcement officers were on duty at McDonalds in Carmarthen.

They saw a man sitting in the driver seat of a vehicle and noted that there was no litter on the ground around it. However, a short time later the officers could see that there was a takeaway food bag on the ground to the near side of the vehicle.

The officers spoke to the driver who admitted dropping the litter and he was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £75.

However, further checks by the officers revealed McLoughlin had previously been issued with a fixed penalty notice for littering in February 2011.

As a result, the notice issued on July 8 was cancelled and McLoughlin was informed he would be prosecuted in court instead.

He was fined £150 by magistrates and ordered to pay £376.21 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “It is very disappointing that this individual had already been fined for dropping litter but failed to learn from his mistake and was caught for a second time.

“Dropping litter will not be tolerated in Carmarthenshire; we want a clean and safe county we can be proud of.

“Our officers carry out regular patrols and anyone caught will be fined. I hope this case sends out the message that we take this type of anti-social behaviour very seriously indeed.”