A WOMAN who was spotted tossing a cigarette butt from her car window claims Wychavon District Council has treated her like ‘“a class one criminal”.

Betina Adams, of Hillfurze, near Bishampton, which is near Evesham, found the council’s reaction “stressful and distressing” after an environmental crime officer reported seeing Ms Adams discarding the cigarette butt as she drove along the A44 on Wednesday, January 14.

Ms Adams has since paid a £75 fixed penalty notice and attended a formal interview at council headquarters. She said: “I was treated as if I was a class one criminal and I asked Councillor Liz Tucker to attend the interview with me.

“She was amazingly kind and made it not such a frightening experience.

“I wasn’t even given a chance to appeal and feel as though the council have bullied this money out of me.”

Coun Tucker, of Wychavon district council, said: “I think that the council’s reaction was disproportionate.

“This is one of those occasions where the heavy hand of local government has made it look ridiculous.”

Wychavon District Council said Ms Adams was offered a fixed penalty notice of £75. This was refused so she was invited to attend a formal interview.

Wychavon said that it was a priority to protect the local environment and tackle people that litter consistently and fairly.

Prior to the smoking ban being introduced, Wychavon gave away free portable ash trays and installed ash trays on the tops of litter bins to help the disposal of cigarette butts.

Councillor Anna Mackison, portfolio holder for environmental services, said: “Many miles of hedgerows and grass banks are damaged in the countryside each summer by cigarettes being thrown out of car windows, causing environmental harm and unsightly roadside verges.

“This practice is unnecessary as most vehicles have some kind of ashtray.”