Christine Ohuruogu is to be prosecuted by her local council after she failed to put her recycling out for the third week running. The Olympic 400m Champion now faces a fine of up to £1,000 or 3 months imprisonment. “We operate a strict three strikes and out policy,” said a spokesman for Newham Borough Council, “Miss Ohuruogu has repeatedly failed to comply with our rubbish regulations and must now face the consequences.” The council source went on to explain that Ohuruogu had been issued with a “final written warning in the strongest words possible” just a week before her last offence. “The fact is that the individual has to be responsible for it is in the individual’s recycling bin,” the official continued, “we cannot verify this if Miss Ohuruogu does not make her bins available to be checked.”
Despite the criticism, the ditsy former World Champion was unrepentant when asked about the gaffe at a recent press conference. Slamming the council as “absolutely inflexible” she claimed that she had been diverted by a child’s birthday party and was thus forced to put her recycling in with a neighbour’s. “I have come through countless recycling checks whilst this has been going on,” thundered the clearly vexed Ohuruogu, “I think that I have enough on my plate contemplating whether or not to compete at the Commonwealth Games to be worrying about such nonsense.” A spokesman for Ohuruogu said that his charge would “vehemently defend” any action brought against her by the council. “It was a legitimate mix up,” stated the source shortly after stepping off a plane from Jamaica, “we understand the council have to check to make sure that all Christine’s recycling is in order, but they must also realise that she is a busy person.”