A NELSON taxi driver has been ordered to pay £440 for throwing a cigarette end from his car window.

Fayyaz Mohammed, 48, of Crawford Street, Nelson, failed to attend Reedley Magistrates’ Court to face the charge.

But the case was proved in his absence and the court imposed a fine of £200 plus £220 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

On November 25, 2013, a waste management officer from Pendle Council witnessed Mohammed throw his cigarette end from the window of his car, a taxi he was driving for Matrix Taxis in Nelson.

Mohammed’s details were obtained by checking his vehicle details with the DVLA.

He was later issued with a fixed penalty notice — carrying a fine of £75 — for dropping cigarette litter. But he did not pay this and, as a result, ended up being taken to court last Thursday. Coun John David, executive member for environmental services, said the fine should serve as a warning to other people not to drop rubbish on the streets.

He said: “Cigarette ends are classed as litter and should always be disposed of properly – in the bin.

“Just like with other forms of litter, it is an offence to throw them on the ground, and it is particularly uncivilised to just hurl them from a car window.

“This prosecution should serve as a warning to anyone that they can face a hefty fine, all for failing to do the decent thing and put their rubbish in the bin.”