A group of smokers have been ordered to pay a combined nine grand after dropping cigarette butts on the ground.

A total of 15 people were fined a total of £9,120 for failing to pay fixed penalty notices for littering in Medway between November and January. Fourteen were for dropping cigarette butts.

Cllr Tris Osborne, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for enforcement, said: “Our teams work hard throughout the year to keep Medway clean and tidy, but we all need to do our part to help.

“We do not want to have to fine people, but we will continue to do so to ensure the message that littering is not tolerated in Medway is heard loud and clear.”

The cases were heard at Slough Magistrates’ Court on Monday, July 10, and were all proved in absence. The council released details of the cases yesterday.

All 15 were ordered to pay £608 after failing to pay fixed penalty notices after they were seen dropping litter.

They were:

Michelle Greg, 50, of Natal Road, Chatham, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt in High Street, Chatham, on November 30.

Sarah Jane Conway, 46, of Coronation Road, Sheerness, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt in High Street, Chatham, on December 1.

Jade Williams Pagget, 38, of Parr Avenue, Gillingham, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt at Chatham Waterfront bus station on December 1.

Dean Maguire, 27, of Melville Court, Chatham, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt in Railway Street, Chatham, on December 6.

Joey Layden, 27, of Tatler Close, Chatham, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt in Railway Street, Chatham, on December 6.

Toni Whittome, 34, of Mountbatten Avenue, Chatham, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt in Globe Lane, Chatham, on December 7.

Mohamed Essa, 58, of Charlton Lane in London, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt at The Paddock in Chatham on December 15.

Alex Beer, 28, of High Street, Chatham, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt in Dock Road, Chatham, on December 19.

Steven Bell, 23, of Fallowfield, Chatham, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt in Railway Street, Chatham, on December 19.

Radu Matache, 37, of The Mile End, London, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt at Medway Services in Gillingham on December 30.

Ian Turnball, 52, of Ashton House, Old Mill Wharf, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt at Medway Services, Gillingham, on January 12.

Mark Yems, 50, of York Road, Southend-on-Sea, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt at Medway Services, Gillingham, on January 12.

Stephen Mallion, 26, of Roonagh Court, Sittingbourne, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt at Medway Services in Gillingham on January 13.

Alexandru Mocanu, of Brook Street, Wellingborough, who was seen dropping a cigarette butt at Medway Services, Gillingham, on January 14.

Charlie Simmons, 31, of Luton Road, Chatham, who was seen dropping lighter packaging in High Street, Chatham, on January 13.

People who want to stamp out the habit for good are encouraged to get in touch with the council’s Stop Smoking Service, which you can find by clicking here.

To report littering in Medway, visit: Medway.gov.uk/ReportLitter.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows authorised officers to issue fixed penalty notices on any land the public has access to.

The litter enforcement agents patrol across Medway including in high streets, green spaces, and supermarket car parks.