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An ex-Â鶹´«Ã½ resident has pleaded guilty to giving false information to a Community Warden, after being caught littering.

Â鶹´«Ã½ Borough Council successfully prosecuted ex-Â鶹´«Ã½ resident, Natalie Bunting of Redehall Road, Horley under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, for providing a false or inaccurate name or address and non-payment of a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). 

Mrs Bunting was stopped in the town centre in August 2019 by a Warden, who witnessed her throwing a cigarette butt onto the floor. She was issued with an FPN and asked for her name and address details.

Due to non-payment of the FPN, a summons was issued by the council but was returned as undeliverable. At this point the council did not know if Mrs Bunting had given a false name as well as a false address.

A thorough enquiry led by the council’s Investigations Team, established that she had in fact given her real name but a previous address. Mrs Bunting was then interviewed and admitted to giving a false address, but stated she did so because she didn’t know if the Warden was who he said he was, despite him wearing the uniform.

Mrs Bunting received a six month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay towards the councils costs.

The Community Wardens patrol the whole of Â鶹´«Ã½ and will issue an FPN to anyone they see dropping litter.

The councils Investigation team will investigate all aspects of fraud and criminal activity in Â鶹´«Ã½. They can be contacted for free and in confidence by emailing investigations@crawley.gov.uk