A woman has been left baffled after being issued a fine for dropping a cigarette in a village she hasn’t visited for decades; nearly 200 miles away from her home. Natalie Walston, 31, was issued a fixed penalty notice (FPN), dated November 12, to her parents’ house in Gravesend, Kent, that accused her of littering in nearby Swanscombe.
Natalie has not lived at her parents house since 2021 and now lives over 180 miles away in Staffordshire. Natalie has said that the suspect could not have been her due to the fact she has not visited the area where the offence happened since she was a child, does not smoke and has evidence she was not in Kent at the time.
To prove her innocence Natalie submitted bank transaction receipts that proved she was shopping in the B&M and Tesco’s in Staffordshire at the time; almost 200 miles from the incident.
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(Image: ITV News)
The fixed penalty notice stated that a Dartford council officer witnessed her “committing an offence” on October 29 and that she would have to pay a £75 fine or appeal it.
The notice further elaborated that, “As neither payment or written challenge has been received, you remain liable for the offence and prosecution proceedings in the magistrates’ court may begin immediately against you.”
The notice added, “If convicted you may have to pay a fine of up to £2,500 for littering.”
Natalie has said, “It is just a bit bizarre. I was accused of littering a cigarette in Swanscombe which is honestly more absurd, as I do not smoke and have never been to the address they claimed I was at.”
“I feel like a complete victim of fraud. Someone must have stolen my identity or the council’s security measures are so broken they will take a name and address with no proof.”
Dartford council have since contacted Natalie and have cancelled the FPN after they reviewed evidence she provided.
“Our enforcement team requested a current photo of Ms Walton upon receiving it was compared to the person in the footage. It was found it was not Ms Walton and the FPN has now been cancelled.”
Dartford council are still investigating to find the real offender, however were unable to provide a photo.
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