A DROPPED cigarette has seen a man's cash go up in smoke.

Sam Moseley, 20, of Cavell Crescent, Temple Hill, Dartford, was given an £80 fixed penalty notice after dropping a lit cigarette in Temple Hill Square on October 5 last year.

But after refusing to pay the £80 fine, Moseley was brought to court.

He appeared at Dartford Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he was ordered to pay an increased fine of £150 plus £115 in costs.

Cllr Jeremy Kite, Dartford council leader, said the court proceedings were necessary to drive home the message that fixed penalty notices must be taken seriously.

He said: “We don’t want to intrude on people going about their daily business, but despite being given an opportunity to pick up the litter, this particular individual still refused to co-operate, which is why we took action.”

He said the council would only take court action if residents refused to pay a fixed penalty fine.

Fixed penalty notices came into force under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.