Lee East, a 51-year-old van driver from Clacton, was left embarrassed and angry after a council enforcement officer questioned him about his prostate condition when she caught him urinating in a layby on the A12. He was issued a £200 fine for littering, which was later rescinded following an appeal.
Incident Details
East, who has been a professional driver for 30 years, suffers from an enlarged prostate and bladder issues, requiring him to urinate more frequently. He was leaning against his van's front passenger door to discreetly relieve himself when a female contractor from Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) approached him. The officer, who introduced herself as Anna, stated that she had been recording and warned that he could face a £2,500 fine in court.
East explained his prostate problem, to which Anna replied, "it seems to be quite common with men, prostate problems," and added, "it's obviously something women don't suffer from," before issuing the fixed penalty notice. She further commented, "I just can't believe how common it is with men, probably out of 10, potentially five or six, minimum, prostate problems." She then asked which medication he was taking and how many.
Emotional Impact
East described the experience as humiliating. "It just made me feel disgusting, very very angry. It was quite embarrassing for me, I'm quite a respectful law-abiding citizen, to be caught short in that situation in the first place. But to have a female officer questioning you like that – what I've been through, all the testing and everything like that, it was really not very pleasant at all. To feel like you're being ridiculed, it's absolutely disgusting," he said.
Council Response
A Colchester City Council spokesperson defended the enforcement action, stating that the council takes public hygiene and anti-social behaviour seriously. "The council does not 'target' specific groups but responds to complaints and known hotspots where there are persistent issues such as littering, fly-tipping or public urination. Lay-bys can, unfortunately, become locations where this type of behaviour occurs, and our officers carry out proportionate enforcement where necessary to maintain public health and environmental standards," the spokesperson said.
The council emphasised that enforcement is based on behaviour, not individuals or professions. "Our officers act where there is clear evidence of a breach. Public urination is an offence and can pose health risks, create unpleasant conditions for other users, and damage the local environment."
Facilities for Drivers
The council acknowledged the need for appropriate facilities for lorry drivers and road users but noted that provision of rest areas is primarily the responsibility of National Highways and private operators. "Within the Colchester area there are service stations and other amenities, but these are not controlled by the council," the spokesperson added. The council also stated that enforcement officers are salaried and do not receive commission for issuing fines, and that income from penalties covers enforcement costs.
East has since installed a portable toilet in his van to avoid similar incidents. The fine was rescinded after his appeal, but the council's waste contractor warned that a second offence would not be waived.
