A pensioner who was fined £80 for pouring a cup of coffee down a drain has finally been refunded - months after she lost an appeal.

Sue Peckitt had poured the hot beverage down the drain before putting it in a bin in New Broadway, Ealing, because she did not like the taste.

But three enforcement officers from Ealing Council followed her to the bin and slapped her with an on-the-spot fine of £80 for littering.

She was unsuccessful in appealing the decision just days after the fine in November last year.

But after getwestlondon approached the council for comment on January 12, it replied a day later to say the fine would be refunded.

Sue Peckitt has been refunded the £80 fine she was given by Ealing Council

Miss Peckitt, a retired civil servant, now says she received a hand-delivered letter from the council on Tuesday (January 17) in addition to the £80 refund.

The 65-year-old Hanwell resident said: "I am very grateful to getwestlondon for approaching the council and resolving the situation for me.

"I have never done anything criminal in my life, I have never even paid my council tax late. I have never had a parking ticket."

In the letter given to Miss Peckitt, she says the council told her it was not the "type of enforcement action it should seek to be undertaking".

Miss Peckitt poured the coffee down a drain outside Ealing Broadway Centre

Miss Peckitt, who moved to Ealing 33 years ago, added: "I wanted them to ensure this would not happen again. The council said 'we will review the case to ensure it does not happen again'.

"That was the whole point, I didn't want people to have to go through what I did for what was not an offence."

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