A teenager is refusing to pay an £80 on-the-spot fine imposed by a police officer who overheard him swearing in a private conversation with friends.
Kurt Walker, 18, from Deal, Kent, said he would go to court rather than pay the fine handed out in a town park.
He said he received the fixed-penalty notice after he used the F-word to a group of friends he met in the park.
Kent Police said fixed penalty notices were just one tool to help them to tackle anti-social behaviour.
"In my eyes I have not committed any crime whatsoever"
Student Mr Walker was on his way to a youth centre where he works as a volunteer when he stopped to talk to friends.
"One of my mates said, 'What have you been up to', and I swore when I replied," he said.
"I was shocked when the female police officer gave me the fine, very shocked.
"It is not every day you swear and you get an £80 fine. It is just absurd, really."
Mr Walker is adamant he will not pay the fine and will challenge the penalty notice in court next month.
'Not normal'
"In my eyes I have not committed any crime whatsoever," he said, adding that swearing was a normal part of the language he and his friends use.
Dover District Council's anti-social behaviour unit works closely with Kent Police to tackle bad behaviour.
"Swearing and abusive behaviour certainly is not normal behaviour and I feel it should never be used in a public place," said councillor Julie Rook.
A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "The public expect us to tackle anti-social behaviour.
"If Mr Walker is not happy he can have his case decided by a court."
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