Non-smoker fined £433 for dropping cigarette butt in Manchester

Steve Jones, who lives in London, said the single justice procedure notice gave an incorrect date of birth and address, and said he had ‘hat hair’, which he found ‘quite odd’. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

A non-smoker was convicted at a magistrates court after Manchester city council accused him of dropping a cigarette butt in the city centre – even though he was hundreds of miles away, arranging a family funeral at the time.

Steve Jones, a 53-year-old teacher, lives 200 miles away in Teddington, Greater London, has only been to Manchester three times, and doesn’t smoke.