Ten environmental criminals have each been ordered to pay nearly £1,000 for dropping litter in Plymouth.
The Council brought the cases before the Plymouth Magistrates Court on Monday after fixed penalty notices for £150 went unpaid.
The court heard how each of the defendants had either been witnessed dropping litter or leaving it loose in services lanes in residential areas outside of waste collection days.
None of the offenders attended their hearings but were found guilty in their absence.
They must each pay a fine of £660, costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £66. They must pay the total of £976 within 28 days. Each will now carry a criminal record.
Also before the same court on Monday was a man who failed to keep his dog on a lead in a dogs on lead area.
Like the litterers, his offence was witnessed by a Council officer who issued him with a fixed penalty notice. When it was unpaid, the case was brought to court.
He must also pay a fine of £660, costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £66.
Councillor Bill Wakeham, Cabinet member for the Environment and Street Scene, said: "The lesson here is quite simple; if you litter, or do not keep your dog on a lead in a restricted area, you will be issued with an FPN.
"If you thenchoose to ignore the FPN, your case will be heard in court and could prove to be a very expensive mistake.
"It’s disappointing to have to continue deploying our officers as a deterrent against a small minority who flout the law."