A council fined a non-smoker for dropping a cigarette in a village before bungling officials realised she lived more than 160 miles away.
Natalie Walton was handed a £75 fixed penalty notice (FPN) and threatened with prosecution after she was wrongly accused of littering in Swanscombe, Dartford, Kent.
However, the 31-year-old was able to prove that she was shopping in a B&M store and a Tesco supermarket in Staffordshire on Oct 29, the day of the offence.
Officials were forced to cancel her fine after watching body-worn camera footage which showed that someone else dropped the cigarette.
The notice, dated Nov 12, said that a Dartford council officer witnessed her “committing an offence” and warned that she needed to pay a £75 fine or appeal it.
It added: “As neither the payment nor the written challenge has been received, you remain liable for the offence and prosecution proceedings in the magistrates’ court may begin immediately against you. If convicted, you may have to pay a fine of up to £2,500 for littering.”
Ms Walton said: “I had not been to Kent for months. Dartford council were trying to fine me £75 for something I was not even there to do.
“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 have 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.”
A spokesman for Dartford council said: “Our enforcement team requested a current photo of Ms Walton and 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.”
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
