A Kent teenager who was fined for swearing during a conversation has had the case against him dropped.
Kurt Walker, 18, of Deal, had refused to pay an £80 fine issued by a police officer who overheard him swearing in a private conversation with friends.
The Crown Prosecution Service has now informed the teenager the case has been dropped, his father said on Wednesday.
Kent Police had earlier defended the fine, saying swearing was an offence under the Public Order Act.
Derek Walker, 44, said: "He has had a letter saying that they are not going to proceed with the case now on the grounds that they don't have enough evidence.
"He's elated because obviously he hasn't got to go to court and hasn't got to pay a fine for just having a normal conversation.
"He said he felt like he was a criminal."
Kent Police said officers were speaking to youths riding bikes in a skateboarding area when the teenager approached the group, talked to his friends and swore, and was given a fixed penalty notice.
The student had refused to pay the fine and was due to appear in court in March.
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