Toddler fined £89 for dropping two crisps

A woman was handed an £80 litter fine after her toddler grandchild dropped some crisps on the pavement.

Barbara Jubb had picked up the packet of Quavers when it fell from the hand of 20-month- old Emily.

But she failed to pick up two stray crisps that spilled from the bag.

Within seconds two council litter wardens swooped and issued her with an £80 fine.

“This is diabolical,” said Mrs Jubb, 57. “£80 is a lot of money, especially if it’s just because a baby dropped two Quavers.

“I saw these two women coming toward me with clipboards. One of them produced a card and said, ‘We are from the council and I’m going to fine you for littering’.

“I said, ‘What litter - it’s just two Quavers, it was my granddaughter, she dropped them’.”

“People were standing around listening-they were just laughing, they couldn’t believe it was happening.”

The incident happened when Mrs Jubb was waiting for a bus with her daughter Selena, Emily’s mother.

They were on their way back to their home in Crawley, West Sussex, after a hospital visit in which Selena was diagnosed with a heart condition.

Mrs Jubb added: “It was only when I got on the bus that I read the notice and realised they had fined me £80.”

Selena, 29, said: ‘At first we didn’t realise we had been fined. These two wardens had come up to us and given us a notice.

“When I read it on the bus I realised my mum had been given an £80 fine. Luckily Emily didn’t have a clue what was going on. I think they are targeting vulnerable people.”

A spokesman for Crawley Council said: “People leaving their rubbish behind - or dropping litter anywhere other than a bin - is totally unacceptable.

“It annoys responsible residents who help us to keep the town clean and tidy and the council will not tolerate unsociable behaviour.”

The council did however allow Mrs Jubb’s appeal against the fine, saying the penalty would be waived because of the ‘exceptional circumstances’.

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