A man was told to pay £380 after he chucked a pie crust out the window of his Mercedes.
John Gallagher was charged with littering after he was spotted throwing the pastry from the black car in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
He was due to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court yesterday but did not attend the hearing and did not have anyone to represent him.
Magistrates found Gallagher guilty in the his absence and gave him fines and costs of £380.
They had heard how Durham County Council officer Ian Hoult, who is neighbourhood protection manager at the authority, saw how Gallagher threw the crust and drove away, leaving it in the road.
Sarah Griggor, prosecuting on behalf of the council, said the incident happened at 3.59pm on May 29.
She said: The male driver dropped a pie crust out of the drivers side window and drove away.
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Gallagher, of Pelton Fell Road in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £150, which was not paid.
He will now have to pay prosecution costs of £130, a fine of £120 and a victim surcharge of £30, making £380 in total.
Oliver Sherratt, Durham County Councils head of direct services, said: Mr Gallaghers actions constituted litter by law and were completely unnecessary given how widespread public bins are.
As well as the unsightly appearance of the item dropped in an attractive location like Bishop Auckland Market Place, it had the potential to attract rats which can be a risk to public health.
We seek to tackle cases likes this without the need for court proceedings where possible but by failing to pay the fixed penalty notice he was issued Mr Gallagher left us with no option but to prosecute.
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