GB News presenter Patrick Christys has hit out after he was given a £500 spot fine for littering when he dropped a cigarette butt out of his car window – which he insists was an accident.
The TV journalist claimed he was 'entrapped' by the uniformed civil enforcement officer who claimed he had been littering while he was smoking while talking on the phone in Nottingham.
Mr Christys, 34, told how he became incensed because he had actually picked up the butt and put it in a nearby bin rather than leaving it on the pavement.
But the enforcement officer ignored his protestations and issued him with a £500 fixed penalty notice for littering – though the tariff is reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days.
And the final fine could go as high as £2,500 if he continues to refuse to pay it, it was said.
The fine was issued by a worker from contractor Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement in the Broxtowe area of the East Midlands city where he was on a work assignment recently.
Mr Christys told the story of his littering fine in a televised conversation with fellow broadcaster Kelvin MacKenzie.
He recalled: 'I dropped a cigarette out of the window. I'm right next to it. I'm six inches away from the cigarette.
GB news presenter Patrick Christys said he was given a £500 spot fine for littering when he dropped a cigarette butt on the floor
Recounting the episode on GB News' Off the Record podcast with Kelvin MacKenzie and Sir Michael Ellis, he claimed he was always going to put the butt in the bin
'I look at it, I'm like, "OK, I'm on the phone. I'll finish the phone call, I'll pick the cigarette up, pick it up in a bit.
'"Not a problem."
'[Then there's a] knock on the window - Robocop guy got his body camera on.
'And he goes, "This cigarette here, can I just talk to you about it?"
'I was like, "Look, I'm on the phone. Yeah, I'm gonna put it in the bin.
'"So, I'll tell you what, if it makes you feel better, I'll just put it in the bin now."
'So, I hung up, I picked the cigarette out, walked over, put it in the bin.'
Mr Christys recalled: 'He goes, "It's still a crime, sir".
'How could it possibly be a crime?
'I said, "I've dropped my cigarette by mistake. Next to me here. I'm on the phone. I've not made any attempt to leave the scene, you know, and you've come over".
'He goes, "No, it is an offence. I need your details."'
The TV presenter then challenged the enforcement officer over how he knew he was responsible for littering.
Mr Christys recalled: 'Then I said to him, "Hang on a minute, did you even see me on camera smoking this cigarette?"
'He goes, "Uh, no, but because you got out the car and put it in the bin, but you've basically just admitted that it's yours".'
Mr Christys then accused the enforcement officer of entrapment.
The TV presenter said he then even started to suspect the whole affair might be a staged joke to wind him up.
He revealed how he had initially refused to give his name when approached by the enforcement officer - only for a passing pedestrian who had recognised him to shout out 'Patrick Christys'.
The TV presenter told how he subsequently sought advice from a lawyer.
Then, fearing that the case would escalate if he held out, he reluctantly agreed to pay the fixed penalty fine, it is understood.
Mr Christys then said that he later that day spotted two young men smoking cannabis right next to him – which he claimed the council officer ignored.
He recalled: 'What's next to my car?
'Two lads, smoking a spliff. Did they get accosted by Robocop?
'Smoking a spliff, put it on the floor, walk off. 'An actual crime. And no one seemed to bat an eyelid.'
A spokeswoman for Broxtowe Council told the Daily Mail that while she was not able to comment on individual cases, anyone issued with a fine for littering could challenge it.
In a statement Broxtowe Council said: 'The Council is unable to comment on individual cases.
'However, anyone who has been issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice and wishes to challenge it can do so.
'Environmental enforcement activities are carried out on behalf of Broxtowe Borough Council by a specialist third-party enforcement contractor, in partnership with the site owner.
'Enforcement action may be taken in relation to littering and other environmental offences where appropriate, using powers available under the Environmental Protection Act.'
Last year Mr Christys posted a satirical film on TikTok in which he is told that he faces a 25-year jail sentence for failing to pay parking fines.
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