Natalie Walton has been left confused ever since she obtained a superb for dropping a cigarette in a village, practically 300 kilometres from her dwelling — a spot she had not visited in over a decade. The fastened penalty discover (FPN), addressed to Ms Walton, was despatched to her guardian’s home in Gravesend, Kent, accusing her of littering in close by Swanscombe. The discover, dated November 12, said a Dartford council officer witnessed her “committing an offence” which was additionally recorded on a body-worn digicam, on October 29 and that she wanted to pay a £75 (Rs 8,082) superb or enchantment it.
The discover added that Ms Walton might be taken to court docket and if convicted, she might should pay a superb “as much as & £2,500 (Rs 2,69,410) for littering”.
“As neither the fee nor the written problem has been obtained, you stay accountable for the offence and prosecution proceedings within the magistrates’ court docket might start instantly in opposition to you,” the discover added.
Ms Walton claimed that she couldn’t have been the accused as she is a non-smoker and has not visited the place the place the offence came about, since she was a child. Ms Walton added she had an alibi which proved she was not even in Kent on the time of the supposed offence.
“I had not been to Kent for months. Dartford council had been attempting to superb me £75 for one thing I used to be not even there to do. It’s only a bit weird. I used to be accused of littering a cigarette in Swanscombe which is truthfully extra absurd, as I don’t smoke and have by no means been to the deal with they’ve claimed I used to be at,” she was quoted as saying by KentOnline.
“I really feel like an entire sufferer of fraud. Somebody will need to have stolen my id or the council’s safety measures are so damaged they’ll take a reputation and deal with with no proof.”
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Proof offered
Because the controversy snowballed, Ms Walton produced her financial institution transactions, proving she was procuring in B&M and Tesco in Staffordshire on the time of the littering incident. After her protest and examination of the proof, the Dartford Council stated Ms Walton’s FPN was cancelled.
“After I noticed the e-mail, I used to be relieved and felt a lot much less careworn however I nonetheless don’t know how they thought it was me,” she stated.
The council, in the meantime, stated the true accused had given the flawed deal with to the officers and pointed them in the direction of Ms Walton.
“Our enforcement staff requested a present photograph of Ms Walton and upon receiving it was in comparison with the individual within the footage. It was discovered it was not Ms Walton and the FPN has now been cancelled.”
The council continues to be investigating who the true offender is however was unable to offer a photograph.
Regardless of the superb being revoked, Ms Walton stated your entire ordeal had left her careworn, particularly when she is getting married in two weeks.