Catshill man prosecuted for smoking in public

Dec 17 2008 by justine halifax, Birmingham Mail

A COUNCIL is celebrating a legal first after prosecuting a man for smoking in public.

Brian Sidwell was caught smoking in a works van in June but failed to stump up £50 after being issued with a fixed penalty notice by an environmental health officer for Tamworth Borough Council.

The 44-year-old, of Wildmoor Lane, Catshill, Bromsgrove, failed to turn up at Tamworth Magistrates Court twice.

At an adjourned hearing this month the case was proved and he was fined £80 and ordered to pay £165 costs. The smoke-free law came into effect in July 2007 and anyone caught flouting it in Tamworth can expect a fixed penalty.