Black bags of rubbish left in Goonvean, St Austell
Two people who refused to pay Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN)s for littering have been prosecuted.
The litterers were due to appear at Truro Magistrates’ Court on September 17 but failed to attend.
Darren Truscott, of Trelavour Road, St Dennis, was found guilty in his absence of littering five bags of household rubbish.
The black bags were left in Goonvean, St Austell, in February 2025.
Truscott was issued an FPN for the offence which he failed to pay.
Because the FPN was not paid, the case was sent to court where Truscott was fined £250 and ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.
He was also ordered to pay Cornwall Council’s court costs of £1,336.
Stephen Smith, of Dabryn Way, St Stephens, was found guilty in his absence of littering a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
Smith threw the PCN out of a car window towards a civil enforcement officer in Fore Street, Bodmin, in January 2025.
Smith was issued an FPN for the offence which he refused to pay. This meant the case was sent to court.
The court imposed a fine of £660, a £264 victim surcharge and awarded Cornwall Council costs of £1,425.
Councillor Thalia Marrington, Cabinet member responsible for Community Safety and Public Protection at Cornwall Council, said: “In both of these cases the individuals were offered the chance to settle the matter by paying a Fixed Penalty Notice.
"They refused to do this and will therefore have to pay considerably more.
“There is never any excuse for littering and when we can trace those responsible, we will take action.
“As well as public CCTV cameras, more and more people now have doorbell and home security cameras that capture this type of offence.
“I urge anyone with such footage to report it to us so we can investigate.”
If you have evidence on someone littering, report it to Cornwall Council’s Community Protection and Enforcement Team.
Press release issued on September 23, 2025