All five were originally handed fixed penalties after their actions were spotted by officers from Gateshead Council – but when they failed to pay those fixed penalties, they were each referred to magistrates.

Charlene Scales, of Chopwell, was seen dropping cigarette litter on Walker Terrace next to Gateshead Interchange. She was given a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice for the offence but failed to pay it. She was therefore told to attend Gateshead Magistrate’s Court on 22 November but failed to do so. Magistrates found her guilty in her absence and sentenced her to a £175 fine with £100 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Anne Perrin of Saltwell Road, Gateshead was caught dropping cigarette litter on the High Street, Gateshead and failed to pay her £50 Fixed penalty Notice. She failed to attend court and was sentenced to a £175 fine with £100 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

James Charlton of Fenham, Newcastle was also caught dropping cigarette litter in Blaydon and ignored the Fixed Penalty Notice he was issued. Magistrates learnt that he was already paying two other outstanding fines and sentenced him to a fine of £50 with £100 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Andrew Edwards of High Street, Felling was also caught dropping cigarette litter on the High Street, Gateshead and failed to pay him £50 Fixed penalty Notice. He then failed to attend court and was sentenced in his absence to a £50 fine with £100 costs after magistrates heard that he was already paying an outstanding fine.

Finally, Ian Peel of Aycliffe Place, Springwell was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice for allowing his dog to foul a public area, but failed to pay it. His dog had been observed by one of the Council’s Dog Wardens fouling a grassed verge on Ryhope Gardens. No one was with the dog.

When the warden attempted to seize the dog, it made off towards Aycliffe Place where it ran into Mr Peel’s front garden and stood at the front door, barking. The Warden called at the property and identified the dog’s owner to whom he then issued a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Mr Peel did not attend court and the offence was proved in his absence. He was sentenced to a fine of £175 with £100 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Gateshead Council group director of Local Environmental Services John Robinson said: “People repeatedly tell us that they don’t want their pavements and public spaces covered in litter or dog mess. As well as being unsightly, its costly to clean up, it causes real damage to the environment and it could be a health risk.

“These latest prosecutions demonstrate that we will not tolerate dog fouling and dropping litter in Gateshead – and we will always, always pursue people who ignore our Fixed Penalty Notices.

“These fines are evidence of the sort of penalties that await people who deliberately choose to throw their rubbish on the ground or allow their dog to foul. We’d prefer not to have to take them – we’d prefer if they’d help us in keeping Gateshead clean and tidy – but we’ll take firm action if we need to. ”