Handyman fined for smoking in van

7:35am Friday 25th July 2008

A painter and decorator who received a £30 fine for smoking in his own van has warned that British civil liberties are "going up in smoke".

Gordon Williams, 58, of Llanafan, near Aberystwyth, west Wales, was on the way to buy tea bags for his wife when he was slapped with a fixed penalty fine.

A passenger in his van, who had also just lit up, received a £30 on-the-spot fixed penalty notice under the new anti-smoking laws as well.

But the self-employed painter and decorator hit out claiming the fine was unjustified and unfair because his van is a private vehicle.

He has lodged an appeal with Ceredigion County Council and claims Britain is sleepwalking into a "Big Brother-style" society.

The blue Suzuki van belonging to Mr Williams was undergoing a routine check by police in Llanbadarn Fawr, outside Aberystwyth, earlier this month.

The married grandfather had just lit up when a Ceredigion County Council official approached him and dished out the on-the-spot fine.

He said: "I was just having a cigarette and causing no bother to anyone else. But this is like Big Brother is watching you."

A spokesman for the council said: "It would be inappropriate for Ceredigion County Council to comment on individual cases.

"The legislation allows for a right of appeal and the procedures in relation to this are set out in the notices."

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