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Elderly Man Fined £150 After Leaf Blows Into Mouth
11 Dec, 2025
Summary
- An 86-year-old man was fined £150 after a leaf blew into his mouth.
- He was accused of spitting by enforcement officers who did not listen.
- The fine was reduced from £250 upon appeal, which he paid.
An 86-year-old man in Skegness, Lincolnshire, claims he was unfairly fined £150 after a leaf blew into his mouth, causing him to spit it out. Roy Marsh, who suffers from asthma and a heart condition, was issued the penalty by enforcement officers who he says were rude and unwilling to listen to his explanation. The initial fine of £250 was later reduced to £150 on appeal.
Marsh described the incident as "unnecessary and all out of proportion," stating that a gale blew a reed into his mouth as he sat resting in a car park. He also reported being approached by another officer weeks later for taking out a tissue to wipe his nose. His daughter, Jane Fitzpatrick, shared the story on Facebook, highlighting her father's mobility issues and health conditions.
East Lindsey District Council stated that their enforcement teams only approach individuals seen committing environmental offenses and that patrols are not discriminatory. The council also mentioned that they closely monitor enforcement actions, aiming to change behavior and maintain a clean environment for residents and visitors.
