Woman taken to court and fined £400 for dropping a plastic wrapper (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Clapham woman fined £400 for dropping cellophane wrapper after being taken to court by Merton Council

3:00pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Lauren May, Chief Reporter

A woman seen dropping a cellophane wrapper from her car window has been fined more than £400.

Ms Carmel Plummer, 27, of Atkins Road in Clapham, was fined £75 by Merton Council after she was seen dropping litter from her window while driving on Chapter Way in Abbey Mills on May 23 last year.

But because she failed to pay the fine within 14 days Merton Council decided to prosecute and took the woman to court. 

Plummer was convicted of littering at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on March 4 and fined £200 for the offence, ordered to pay costs of £200 and a victim surcharge of £15.

Councillor Mark Betteridge, cabinet member for performance and implementation, said: "We are working hard to keep Merton's streets clean so residents can enjoy and feel proud about where they live.

"Keeping our streets clean costs Merton more than £3m every year, and it's money which could be better spent on other vital services for residents.

"We will not tolerate the minority of people who litter or fly-tip, and will stand up for the many law-abiding residents in the borough."

For more information visit merton.gov.uk/litter-enforcement.