A PEDESTRIAN says he is prepared to go to prison after being caught throwing a cigarette butt on the ground in Taunton town centre.

An enforcement officer slapped a £80 fixed penalty on the man for 'littering' on the pavement outside Poundland last month.

The culprit, who gave his name as Michael Spencer, of Greenway, Bishops Lydeard, was then handed a £420 court fine for failing to pay up.

He said: "This guy came up to me and told me I was being fined £80 just for throwing my cigarette end on the ground.

"There was no warning. I didn't know there was an insistence not to throw it on the ground.

"He should have given me a caution or the option to pick it up.

"It may be anti social to throw it down, but everyone does it. They've been doing it for years, so why do I get picked on?"

He said the court has told him goods could be seized from his home or his car could be clamped if he ignores the fine.

"They can stuff it. I'm not paying. I couldn't afford to anyway," he added.

"They've said I could even go to prison. Well, if they want to, they can send me to prison."

A spokesperson for Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) said: “SWT pledged to crack down on litter and make cleaning of the local environment a priority in response to rising concern from local residents.

"Environmental enforcement officers have been patrolling the district since April this year as part of a 12-month litter enforcement trial which supports our wider litter strategy adopted in January to help clean up the district and change attitudes towards littering.

"Our communities and businesses have welcomed this positive action and support the council's commitment towards maintaining litter-free environments and developing a strong anti-litter culture.

"Unfortunately, a small minority of people continue to drop litter in the district, which is a criminal offence under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990.

"Walking away and refusing to give details is also a criminal offence under section 88 of the EPA 1990.

"Where littering has been witnessed by an officer, they will enforce the council’s zero tolerance policy on littering and issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN)."

Following the issue of an FPN, the offender has 28 days to discharge their liability by paying it. If payment isn’t received, the case will progress to the magistrates' court and a fine will be issued.

The spokesperson added: "We understand that being issued with an FPN for littering can be an upsetting experience.

"If you disagree with the issue of your FPN or dispute that you committed an offence of littering, then you have the option of submitting an appeal in writing to environmental.enforcements@easthants.gov.uk or you have the option of not paying the penalty and the matter will then proceed to the issue of criminal proceedings at the magistrates’ court.

"If the case has progressed to court and a fine has been issued we would recommend the offender doesn’t ignore the fine and speaks with the courts or seeks advice from CAB.

"If an offender wishes to raise a complaint to the council about the issuing of the FPN, the enforcement trial or the enforcement officers, they may do so in writing to Environmental.enforcement@easthants.gov.uk quoting their reference number. This email can also be used to report litter hot spots or to request an educational visit."