Man slapped with ‘dumb’ £200 littering fine after ‘boxes blown away in storm’

A filmmaker has been hit with a £200 littering fine after two empty boxes were discovered in an alleyway behind his Stoke-on-Trent home.

Stuart Swindell, 27, claims the cardboard boxes were blown over his garden gate during Storm Darragh.

The freelancer says he had been keeping the boxes, which contained camera parts, in his garden for potential returns when they were swept away by 25mph winds.

The council has refused to accept his explanation and demanded payment of the fine.

Swindell told Stoke-on-TrentLive: “I was keeping the boxes in my garden in case I needed to return the camera parts I’d ordered…I usually hold onto them for around 30 days, just in case.”

He explained that while the day before had been calm, the weather changed dramatically overnight.

“The weather said there were 25mph winds. Our area, because it’s terraced houses, filters the wind and makes it worse,” he said.

“It was an honest mistake. I didn’t think the winds would get that bad and I didn’t expect them to go flying over.”

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Initially, both Swindell and his partner were issued separate £200 fines for the incident. However, his partner’s penalty was later withdrawn after it was discovered both boxes were addressed to Swindell.

“It’s stupid. I understand there were boxes outside my door, but I told them the wind did it,” said Swindell.

“I don’t litter. I actually have a video of me picking up litter on a beach while I was on holiday, which I posted to show how badly people treat the coast.”

Swindell expressed frustration at being unable to resolve the situation through community service. He added: “I offered to litter pick because I thought that would be a fitting way to make up for my mistake.”

The freelancer explained the fine had impacted his financial security.

“Because I’m self employed, I have good months and I have bad months,” he said. “December was good, but it was a very expensive time with presents and everything. Now this fine has damaged my financial security.”

Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability, said: “Swindell was issued with a fixed-penalty notice for littering on December 6 after two cardboard boxes were found deposited in an alleyway behind Lime Street.

“Officers deemed this to be littering, rather than as a result of Storm Darragh, due to the fact there was no other debris located in that part of the alleyway. Initially, both Swindell and his partner were issued with fines as they were both living at the address.

“Swindell has since paid his fine and the fixed-penalty notice which had been issued to his partner was subsequently withdrawn.

“As highlighted through our IDIOT campaign, the council takes a zero-tolerance approach to littering and fly-tipping. The message remains clear – if you dump waste in Stoke-on-Trent, we will find you and take action.”