Home / Crime and Justice / Grieving Widow Fined £300 for Charity Donation, Sparks Outrage
Grieving Widow Fined £300 for Charity Donation, Sparks Outrage
3 Nov
Summary
- Woman fined £300 for leaving late husband's clothes by charity bin
- Warden was "very unsympathetic" despite her explaining her grief
- Hundreds of similar incidents reported, council accused of "trying to get money"
In a heartbreaking incident, a 51-year-old woman named Sophie Scott was fined £300 for leaving her late husband's clothes next to a charity donation bin in Kings Hill, Kent. On October 20th, 2025, Scott took the clothes to the Salvation Army bin at an Asda car park, but found the bins were full. She neatly placed the bags beside the bin, intending to donate them to charity.
However, Scott was then approached by a warden who issued her a £300 fine for fly-tipping. Despite explaining that she was grieving the recent loss of her husband and had no intention of illegally dumping the items, the warden was "very unsympathetic" and proceeded with the fine.
The council has defended the fine, stating it was issued in line with their "standard policy." However, Scott and hundreds of others have come forward with similar experiences, accusing the council of unfairly targeting people trying to donate to charity. Many feel the council is more interested in generating revenue than supporting the community.
Scott, who is now a single parent, says she simply cannot afford the hefty fine and is devastated by the ordeal. She hopes the incident can serve as an example to prompt the council to re-evaluate its policies and provide more compassion, especially during difficult times.
