A third person has been prosecuted for public spitting on the first anniversary of a ban.

Alexandru Capra, 22, of Nottingham Road in Leyton, was caught spitting in Essex Road, Leyton, on May 7.

After opting not to pay the £80 fixed penalty notice issued to him by an enforcement officer, Capru was sent to Thames Magistrates’ Court.

The fine was increased to £150 and he was ordered to pay £100 in costs.

Waltham Forest was the first local authority in the country to use littering legislation to cover the act of spitting, prompting other councils to follow suit.

“This is the third time we have taken someone to Magistrates’ Court because they refused to pay the fixed penalty notice issued to them for spitting in the street,” deputy council leader and cabinet member for environment Clyde Loakes said.

“The message it sends out is clear – our enforcement officers are out there issuing fines to people who think it is OK to spit on our streets and if you don’t pay the fine the courts will back us up in enforcing justice.”

Two other men were fined in September for spitting in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton.

Waltham Forest Council announced last February that it would start issuing fixed penalty notices to spitting in town centres.