A SMOKER is furious with the council for fining him after he threw his cigarette down a drain.

Paul Robinson, from Warwick Mount in Brighton, dropped the butt down a drain in St James’s Street near his house.

He was stopped by a Brighton and Hove City Council enforcement officer tackling litterbugs on the streets.

The 46-year-old was shocked to be fined £75 for something that he has been doing “all his life”.

He said: “I have been smoking since I was eight.

“I have been putting cigarettes down the drains for ages and have never had this.

“I actually put them down the drains because I don’t want to litter the streets.

“I am conscious about not throwing them anywhere on the pavement.”

Mr Robinson refused to pay the fine but said he was followed by the officer for about a mile.

He said he was told if he rejected the fine, the council would take further, legal action.

Having been to prison for a few years, Mr Robinson reluctantly agreed to give his name and address for a formal fine.

He said: “I can’t afford to pay this.

“The only thing I have is a Chanel bracelet my son gave me and if they really want to they can prise that off my dead body.

“I am not going to pay this fine.

“I saw one of these officers fine a homeless man.”

Mr Robinson said he had no idea about the law with regards to dropping cigarettes and thinks warning should be issued before giving an immediate fine.

He said: “If I wasn’t taking my medication to keep me feeling settled and if I didn’t have my beautiful children and grandchildren there would have been trouble.”

A council spokesman said: “Littering our city is against the law and there can be no excuse for it.

“Putting rubbish down drains is not acceptable.

“People should hold on to their butts until they can dispose of them properly.”

Information on the council website says people caught dropping litter, flytipping and allowing their dogs to foul in public spaces will face on-the-spot fines of between £75 and £300.

The fine depends on the type of offence and enforcement officers will be able to issue an on-the-spot fixed penalty notice.

The maximum penalty for not providing full name and address is £1,000 and a criminal conviction.

If this fixed penalty notice is refused, the case would progress to the magistrate’s court.

The maximum penalty is £2,500, a criminal conviction and any associated costs.