Pensioner fined for littering after police knock cigarette from his hand while arresting shoplifters
By Tom Kelly
Lazaris Michael, 76, claims he was handed a fine for littering after police knocked a cigarette out of his hand
A grandfather was left humiliated after being handed a £60 litter fine when his cigarette was knocked out of his hand as he walked past a scuffle between police and shoplifters.
Lazaris Michael, 76, had taken a single puff before his smoke was sent flying as officers apprehended two girls who were trying to flee a branch of Boots.
But the pensioner did not have time to bend down and pick it up before a council warden pounced on him and hit him the fixed penalty for littering in front of a large crowd.
When he begged the council to show common sense and drop the case they responded by threatening him with an even bigger fine if he does not pay up.
Mr Michael, a retired restaurateur from Margate, Kent, said: 'I am well known by the residents of this town and this was utterly embarrassing.
'I've been shopping on this street for half a century and this has never happened before. I never drop litter.
'I was on my way to pick up a prescription for my wife when two policemen were apprehending two girls and bringing them out of the shop.
'This was causing people to crowd round and in the bustle someone pushed into me and I dropped my cigarette.
'I wasn't littering - it was a full cigarette. But before I had a chance to pick it up the warden had come up to me and asked me to come with him.
'I didn't know what he wanted so I went to talk to him. He gave me the fine and didn't give me a chance to explain.
'If he hadn't come over to talk to me I would have bent down and picked it up without giving another thought.
'I wouldn't waste a full cigarette.'
Mr Michael, who has three grandchildren, said the worst thing about the incident last week was that many in the crowd wrongly believed that he was involved in the shoplifting.
He has since written to the council asking them to investigate the case, which he says was the result of an 'over zealous' council warden.
But he has been told the fee will be increased to £80 if he does not pay up.
Thanet Council's environment chief Shirley Tomlinson said: 'We are happy with the process that has been followed.
'Thanet Council's campaign warns people the council will take a zero tolerance approach to anyone who drops litter, including cigarette butts and chewing gum.
'If spotted, no excuses will be accepted. You will be handed a fine.
'It is therefore important to dispose of any litter in the right way.
'Our wardens have been doing what they have been instructed to do and we cannot make any allowances.'
Councils across Britain were given powers to issue fines for littering in 2006.
Since then 'offenders' have included an 11-year-old boy fined when an apple core fell out of his pocket, an apprentice gas fitter who poured a bucket of soapy water down a drain and a couple who dropped a handful of seed to feed birds.
Schoolgirl Sorrell Walsh from Stalybridge in Greater Manchester was handed a £75 fine for leaving a wooden ice cream stick on a wall in 2006.
Mother- of- three Hilary Buckland, 46, was fined £75 by Luton Borough Council after she threw a Wotsit crisp out of her car.
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