A strong message has been sent to offenders intent on behaving badly in Middlesbrough town centre.
Two men who were caught urinating in the street in broad daylight will have to pay out hundreds of pounds in fines, as will a woman who smoked openly in Middlesbrough bus station before hurling her lit cigarette on the floor when spotted.
All three were found guilty of breaching the town centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which gives Middlesbrough Council the power to give on the spot fines to those causing antisocial behaviour.
Each had been given a £25 Fixed Penalty Notice, which doubles to £50 unless paid in the first 14 days.
But when they were ignored, all three were summonsed to Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
On May 12 this year, a street warden witnessed Mpho Sikhphuki urinating against the wall of a charity shop on Davison Street in the town centre “in broad daylight”, while not wearing shoes or socks.
The court heard that eight children were passing by as the 24-year-old relieved himself.
Sikhphuki, of Cavendish Road, Beechwood, Middlesbrough, did not attend court and the case against him was proven in his absence, leaving him with £612.50 in fines and court costs to pay.
Another man, Matthew O’Leary, did attend court and pleaded guilty to breaching the PSPO by urinating against a wall at the Hill Street shopping centre at 1.15pm on March 19.
The 40-year-old, of Clough Close, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was ordered to pay £206 in fines and costs.
Candice Watson also did not attend court, but the case against her – that she purposely dropped litter, in breach of the PSPO - was proven in her absence.
Watson had been spotted smoking inside Middlesbrough Bus Station at 2.25pm on April 20.
When approached by a Middlesbrough Council street warden, she was seen throwing the lit cigarette on the floor.
The 43-year-old, of Hartington Road, Stockton, was ordered to pay £612.50 in fines and costs.
Cllr Janet Thompson, the Executive Member for Community Safety at Middlesbrough Council, said the tough action send a strong message to offenders.
“We will not tolerate this sort of disrespectful and damaging antisocial behaviour which ruins the town centre experience for a lot of our residents,” she said.
“There is lots happening in Middlesbrough and we want people to come into the town to shop, use the fantastic leisure attractions and enjoy the brilliant restaurants, bars and cafes we have on offer.
“That’s why we will continue to crack down on this sort of unacceptable behaviour.”