Strood resident fined hundreds in litter investigation

A local man has been fined more than £800 after hindering a litter investigation. 

Neil Smith, 39, of Leybourne Road, Strood was called on 20 May 2019 after a police community support officer saw a female driving the vehicle throw an energy drink can out of the window on to Abbey Road, Strood. 

The offence was reported to Medway Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team who issued a legal notice to Smith as the register keeper of the car. 

During the call Smith failed to provide the details of the female driver, despite admitting that he knew her. 

Smith was taken to court and pleaded not guilty at Medway Magistrates Court on the 12 December 2019 to failing to comply with the notice relating to a littering offence. 

The case was proven in the Strood resident’s absence when he failed to attend trial on the 8^th January 2020. 

Magistrates fined Smith, ordering him to pay £832. 

Cllr Jane Chitty, Medway Council’s Enforcement Portfolio Holder, said: “Littering and hindering a littering investigation, is completely unacceptable. As the registered keeper of the vehicle this gentleman failed to cooperate with our investigation and was prosecuted. We all have a responsibility to help keep Medway clean and tidy.”