A west London council has dropped a shocking £150 fine slapped on a woman for simply pouring leftover coffee down a drain near Richmond station.

Reusable Cup User Gets Hit With Fine – Then Council U-Turns

Burcu Yesilyurt from Kew said she was just emptying her reusable cup before hopping on a bus on 10 October when three enforcement officers stopped her and handed her a hefty fine.

She told BBC News: “It feels quite unfair, the fine was extreme.” Ms Yesilyurt added the whole encounter was “intimidating” and said she had no idea her simple action was illegal.

Council Admits It Was a “Minor Contravention” and Apologises

Richmond-upon-Thames Council conceded the coffee spill was a minor offence and reversed the fine after Ms Yesilyurt promised not to rinse again this way. The council apologised but insisted their officers acted professionally. They stressed their commitment to keeping the borough’s waterways clean.