Smoker coughs up

Tuesday August 10, 2010

A smoker who dropped his cigarette butt on the pavement and then refused to give his name to council officers is £1,000 worse off.

Michael Volpe, 45, was spotted dropping a cigarette butt outside Fulham Broadway tube station on November 5, 2009.

Officers from H&F Council’s street scene enforcement team stopped Volpe and offered him the chance to pay a £75 fixed penalty notice for the matter to be taken no further.

Volpe originally refused to give his name to council officers – but did comply when the police arrived on the scene and informed him of his obligations.

The Fulham Road resident eventually gave his name and was issued with the fine.

However, he failed to pay and was ordered to appear before a judge at West London Magistrates Court on July 8.

Subsequently, the judge found him guilty of littering and of failure to give his name to authorised officers.

Volpe was told to pay the council £1,000 towards the cost of bringing the prosecution, and was conditionally discharged for six months.

H&F cabinet member Greg Smith said: “We will simply not tolerate individuals who think they can treat our streets like a giant ashtray. He must rue his decision to ignore the initial £75 fine.”

Volpe claimed in court that he could not see the ashtray nearest the tube, and said that council officers were badly trained... although he did admit dropping the cigarette end on the pavement.