Non smoker fined for dropping cigarette in town she says she’s never been to

A woman who doesn’t smoke has been fined for dropping a cigarette in a town she says she’s never been to.

Natalie Walton received a fixed penalty notice (FPN) from Dartford council that had been sent to her parents house in Gravesend, Kent, where she last lived in 2021.

It said she had dropped the cigarette five miles away in Swanscombe on October 29 and would need to pay a £75 fine or appeal it.

Natalie said she was confused because not only is she a non-smoker who has never visited Swanscombe, on the date of the ‘offence’ she was in Staffordshire where she now lives.

The notice, dated November 12, stated that a Dartford council officer witnessed her ‘committing the offence’.

It said prosecution proceedings may immediately start against her as she had not paid or challenged fine when first issued.

This type of letter is sent to someone when they have been issued with a fine on the spot and have not settled or appealed it, prompting Natalie to wonder if someone was pretending to be her.

She told Kent Online: ‘It is just a bit bizarre. I was accused of littering a cigarette in Swanscombe which is honestly more absurd, as I do not smoke and have never been to the address they have claimed I was at.

‘I feel like a complete victim of fraud. Someone must have stolen my identity or the council’s security measures are so broken they will take a name and address with no proof.’

Armed with proof she was in Staffordshire at the time (she has bank transactions from shopping trips) Natalie appealed.

Another letter from the council arrived at her parents dated November 19, which said the council was starting court proceedings.

Finally, last week, Dartford council said they had cancelled the FPN following a review of the evidence she provided.

The council have since described the person they did see drop the cigarette to Natalie and she thinks it could be an old school friend she hasn’t seen in 20 years.

The Metro has contacted Dartford Council.

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