Contrary to your report and headline on November 27 regarding our failed prosecution of Costa Coffee in Bond Street, Brighton, for trade waste offences, the court did not require the council to pay defence costs of £18,000.

Defence costs are being met from a central government fund. This typically happens where a court accepts a case has foundered on a technicality. It is also more common where a court believes a prosecution has not been sought improperly or out of malice. We fully accept that procedures for conducting interviews and storing evidence, which became central to the case failing, need reviewing.

But readers will understand from the rubbish we found in the vicinity of Costa Coffee and used in our evidence, why the council is keen to try to protect residents from the scourge of trade waste littering our streets.