Dog mess costs owner £140

Keith Peart, of Grasby Court, Bramley, pleaded not guilty at Rotherham Magistrates' Court yesterday to the offence of dog fouling.

The court heard the that the offence took place on a grassed piece of land off Laceby Close, Bramley, on December 2 last year.

In evidence, 56-year old Peart said that his dog did not foul the grass at all.

But under cross-examination by solicitors from Rotherham Borough Council he was shown a photograph of the fouling, as well as copies of the three appeal letters he had written to the authority.

In these letters, Peart himself suggested that his dog had fouled and that he was not allowed the opportunity to pick up the mess.

The court heard that council gives people the opportunity of paying a fixed penalty notice for all littering and dog fouling offences, and also has a scheme that allows offenders to pay in installments in order to be as flexible as possible.

This was offered to Peart to avoid further legal action but he refused the offer.

Magistrates found the case proven against Peart, describing him as an inconsistent witness and, after hearing about his personal circumstances, fined him £75 and ordered him to pay £50 towards the costs together with a £15 victim surcharge, totalling £140.

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