Lauren-Paige Smith, 19, from Cardiff is facing court for feeding a bird. Picture: SWNS/Mega
A TEEN is in a state of disbelief after being summoned to court for feeding a chip to a pigeon.
Lauren Paige Smith, 19, was tucking into a McDonald’s meal for her lunch when she gave a bird one of her fries, reports The Sun.
No chips for you.Source:Mega
The creature gobbled the food right away, but moments later a litter inspector approached her and slapped her with a £25 ($A40) fine.
Lauren, a customer service adviser, told the official the bird ate the grub right away meaning there was no ‘litter’ left behind, but he still issued the charge.
The teen from Cardiff in the UK ignored the notice and carried on with her day after the incident on July 8.
Lauren was summoned to court.Source:Mega
But she was shocked when nearly five months later she received a court summons in the post.
It says she dropped litter — an offence under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act.
Lauren said: “I was feeding the seagulls and pigeons some of my lunch when a man who worked for the council came out of nowhere and told me I was littering.
“He asked for my details because he wanted me to pay a £25 fine.
“I asked him are you serious? I was feeding the birds — and they ate all of the chips.
“But the fine has escalated and now I’m being hauled into court.
“There’s so much worse things going on in the world. I was only in Swansea because I was doing training for work.”
The fine has now escalated to £100 ($A162) and she is expected to appear before Swansea Magistrates’ Court on November 15.
Her grandfather has slammed the council for getting into a flap, saying: “It’s madness”.
“Lauren has never been in trouble in her life and they’re summoning her to court for feeding some birds.
“This is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money. Anybody with an ounce of sense would realise this is ridiculous.
“There’s needles and syringes everywhere in parks and they choose to fine a young girl for feeding a bird? What a job’s worth.”
Lauren added: “I can’t believe I’m being penalised for doing a kind act. I thought it was a wind up.”
Swansea Council has not commented.