Dog owner falls foul of magistrates

A DOG owner has been hit by a 140 bill after he was convicted of failing to clean up after his pet.

Keith Peart of Grasby Court, Bramley, Rotherham pleaded not guilty at Rotherham Magistrates to dog fouling on land off Laceby Close, Bramley, last December.

In evidence, Peart, 56, said his dog did not foul the land at all, but in cross-examination by prosecutors from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council he was shown a photo of the fouling as well as copies of three appeal letters he had written to the authority.

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

The court heard that Rotherham Council gives people the opportunity of paying an 80 fixed penalty notice for all littering and dog fouling offences, and also has a scheme that allows offenders to pay in instalments. This was offered to Peart to avoid further legal action but he turned it down.

Magistrates found Peart guilty, describing him as an inconsistent witness.

He was fined 75 and ordered to pay 50 towards the costs together with a 15 victim surcharge, totalling 140.