Spending a penny in public cost a man £235.

Joshua Carlin, 23, was charged with a littering offence after police officers spotted him urinating in South Street, Romford town centre, in September.

He refused to clean up his mess so the police handed him an £80 litter penalty – which would have been reduced to £50 if he’d paid within 10 days.

After Carlin, of Ingrebourne Road, Rainham, failed to pay the fine, Havering Council took him to court on Friday, January 18 – but he didn’t attend.

Romford magistrates fined him £100 in his absence and ordered him to pay costs of £120, as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

Two hundred and eighty-one fixed penalty notices have been issued to people caught urinating in public areas of Havering since June 2011.

Community safety boss Cllr Geoff Starns said: “This is disgusting behaviour that no one should have to witness or put up with.

“We’re working hard to make Romford town centre a clean, inviting and attractive place for families to visit, which is why we welcome such penalties. I hope it sends a strong message that those who urinate in a public place could be caught and will have to pay for their actions.”