Woman fined for smoking in own hotel!

London, Aug 8 : A Brit woman has been indicted for smoking in her own hotel - while it was closed.

Patricia Coupeland was seen smoking when an Environmental health officer Alan Taylor arrived at her hotel.

The 50-year-old was taken aback when she was fined 50 pounds on the spot, for she was smoking in her own hotel that was closed at the time she was prosecuted.

"I was in the dining room doing paperwork and having a cigarette," The Sun quoted Coupeland, as telling the magistrate.

"It was closed as a hotel at the time and was therefore my private home, there were no guests, I only had a friend staying," she said.

"The officer came across as vicious and a person with attitude," she added.

On the other hand Victoria Cartnell prosecuting for the Blackpool council revealed that Taylor has arrived at the hotel, solely to inspect the hygienic conditions in the hotel.

"The defendant returned from the kitchen with a cigarette which she continued to smoke in the bar area, she confirmed it was a smoke-free hotel, but said it was her home and she was free to smoke," Cartnell revealed.

"The officer said smoking in her quarters was OK, but not in the bar."

ANI