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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fine threat over lost cat posters | Fine threat over lost cat posters |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A council official has been branded "overzealous" after a Kent teenager was threatened with an £80 fine for putting up lost cat posters. | A council official has been branded "overzealous" after a Kent teenager was threatened with an £80 fine for putting up lost cat posters. |
| Daniel Cope, 13, put up 100 flyers on lamp posts in Whitstable after his cat Milly went missing two weeks ago. | Daniel Cope, 13, put up 100 flyers on lamp posts in Whitstable after his cat Milly went missing two weeks ago. |
| But the schoolboy was called back by an environment inspector who accused him of breaching litter regulations. | But the schoolboy was called back by an environment inspector who accused him of breaching litter regulations. |
| Canterbury City Council has apologised to the boy's family for its handling of the situation. | Canterbury City Council has apologised to the boy's family for its handling of the situation. |
| A statement issued by the authority said: "We are sorry to hear that Daniel has lost his cat and understand he wants to do all he can to find her. | A statement issued by the authority said: "We are sorry to hear that Daniel has lost his cat and understand he wants to do all he can to find her. |
| "Although putting up posters like these is considered to be fly-posting, which could result in a fine, we were overzealous in our handling of the situation and apologise to him and his family." | "Although putting up posters like these is considered to be fly-posting, which could result in a fine, we were overzealous in our handling of the situation and apologise to him and his family." |
| Eight-year-old Milly went missing in Whitstable two weeks ago | Eight-year-old Milly went missing in Whitstable two weeks ago |
| Daniel, who is still looking for his large tortoiseshell house cat which had never been outside and could be hiding, said: "I think it was absolutely disgusting. | Daniel, who is still looking for his large tortoiseshell house cat which had never been outside and could be hiding, said: "I think it was absolutely disgusting. |
| "Lots of people have said to me it's a really petty issue - saying it's anti-social behaviour putting up flyers on posts." | "Lots of people have said to me it's a really petty issue - saying it's anti-social behaviour putting up flyers on posts." |
| The teenager said: "People need to find their animals because they're part of a family - it's like you losing your child." | The teenager said: "People need to find their animals because they're part of a family - it's like you losing your child." |
| Heather Cope, Daniel's mother, said: "I just broke down into tears. I thought this is just not happening - I just thought what harm's it doing the posters being out there?" | Heather Cope, Daniel's mother, said: "I just broke down into tears. I thought this is just not happening - I just thought what harm's it doing the posters being out there?" |
| Her husband Stephen said he wanted to leave the posters where they were. | Her husband Stephen said he wanted to leave the posters where they were. |
| He said he would have let the council issue a fine and gone to court to "tell the whole world". | He said he would have let the council issue a fine and gone to court to "tell the whole world". |
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