Tourist who dropped his ice cream cone after he was attacked by seagulls was immediately fined for LITTERING
Holidaymaker Steve Higgins, 52, was enjoying a seaside break with his elderly mother in Torbay, Devon
A TOURIST who was attacked by a ruthless gang of seagulls has been left stunned after he was fined for LITTERING after dropping his ice cream during the distressing incident.
Steve Higgins, 52, was enjoying a holiday with his 81-year-old mother in Torbay, Devon when he was set upon by an angry mob of gulls.
The feathered attackers knocked a portion of the delicious pasteurised treat, complete with a 99 flake, out of poor Steve’s hand.
During the seaside assault, the parcel courier from North Yorkshire, placed the rest of the cone on the ground in a bid to fend of the frenzied aerial attack.
But Steve, who admitted being "scared for my own safety", was shocked when he was issued with an £80 fine by an inspector who had witnessed the pudding-related disturbance.
He said: "I was walking along Paignton Promenade when I fancied an ice-cream.
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"I was heading back to my mother when six or seven seagulls dive bombed me.
"They took my ice cream out of my hand. I shouted a few expletives and I was scared that they would come back again.
"I was scared for my own safety. I put the cone down on the grass verge and went to my car.
"The man then confronted me - I told him: 'you just saw what happened', but he wasn't listening.
"He told me it was littering. I think it's a disgrace."
Furious Steve visited the local police station to appeal the fine enforced by private environmental and civil enforcement company, 3gs.
However, the ice-cream enthusiast has since been in touch the anti-litter company who have given him short shrift.
He said: "They sent me some nasty emails. I took the punishment but it's just the attitude.
"I'm not aware of the laws down there.
"If there was a family on holiday and a child was attacked whilst eating, and dropped food on the floor would the parents be fined?
"I love it down in Torbay, but if things like this are going to happen I won't come back.
"And are people often fined for this sort of thing? It is something that needs to be addressed. People will be put off visiting the area."
Indignant Steve has paid the fine, although he says he plans to launch an appeal against the desert-fuelled injustice.
A spokesperson for 3gs said: "We are satisfied that the fine was correctly issued in accordance with section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
"We cannot comment any further on individual cases."
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