An 86-year-old man has been fined hundreds of pounds for littering after spitting out a leaf that blew into his mouth, sparking criticism over heavy-handed enforcement in a popular English seaside town.
Roy Marsh was walking through a car park in Skegness, on England’s east coast, when he stopped briefly to rest. While paused, a gust of wind blew what he described as a “big reed” into his mouth. He spat it out and began to walk away — only to be confronted by two enforcement officers moments later.
Speaking to the BBC, Marsh said the officers accused him of spitting on the ground. Believing it was a misunderstanding, he brushed it off and called one of them a “silly boy.” It soon became clear, however, that the officers were serious.
Marsh was issued a £250 fine for littering.
“It was all unnecessary and completely out of proportion,” he said.
Although Marsh appealed the decision and was told the fine would be reduced to £150, he claims he was still required to pay the full £250.
The case has drawn criticism from local officials. County councillor Adrian Findley described the incident as an example of enforcement officers being overly aggressive in a town that depends heavily on tourism.
“They are taking it too far,” Findley told the BBC. “If I came here on holiday and was given a £250 fine, I wouldn’t want to risk coming back.”
Findley said enforcement officers should be allowed greater discretion, particularly in cases involving genuine accidents.
“We can’t expect elderly people to chase crisp packets down the road if it’s windy,” he said, adding that people should at least be given the chance to explain, apologise, or correct the situation before being fined.
East Lindsey District Council defended its approach, stating that enforcement officers only approach individuals who are seen committing environmental offences. The council added that patrols are closely monitored, not targeted at any specific group, and are not discriminatory.
Marsh’s experience is not an isolated case. In October, a woman in London was fined £150 after pouring a small amount of coffee down a storm drain before boarding a bus.
Burcu Yesilyurt told the BBC she emptied “just a tiny little bit” of coffee from her reusable cup to avoid spilling it during her commute. Moments later, she said, three enforcement officers chased her down and stopped her.
The encounter left her feeling shaken.
“It was quite a shock,” she said.
Both cases have reignited debate around proportionality, discretion, and the role of enforcement officers in tackling environmental offences across the UK.
