Litter lout is tracked down on Facebook

A ST CLEARS woman who was caught dropping a cigarette butt by council officers and gave false details in an attempt to avoid a fine has been tracked down via Facebook and prosecuted in court.

Jo-dee Sutton from Lon Hafren was seen discarding the litter on King Street in Carmarthen.

Carmarthenshire Council says the 46-year-old refused to accept a fixed penalty notice despite a warning from its enforcement officers she would be reported for prosecution if she did not.

The council said it later became clear however that Sutton had given its officers a false name and address.

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But by using Facebook the officers managed to find pictures and a name and then used council tax records to find her address.

Sutton did not turn up at court and was convicted in her absence by Carmarthen magistrates and fined £200 for the offence under the Environmental Protection Act.

She was fined £200 for giving false details.

She was also ordered to pay £179.58 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The council said it hoped the case would act as a warning to others.

Executive board member for environmental and public protection Jim Jones said the council was serious about punishing people who broke the law.

He added: "This is not the first time our enforcement officers have used Facebook to catch someone.

"We have also issued a fixed penalty notice to a woman who posted pictures of herself daubing graffiti on a wall.

"It is becoming a useful tool in helping us to catch offenders.

"Our environmental enforcement officers regularly carry out patrols across Carmarthenshire and anyone caught dropping litter will be fined.

"Giving false details to an officer is also an offence."