A DOG owner who did not pick up after her pet has been left more than £200 worse off and with a criminal conviction.

Carly Lamb, 19, of Easington, was successfully prosecuted by Durham County Council through its new dog control Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

Lamb, of Station Road, was walking her Staffordshire Bull Terrier on Seaside Lane in Easington on October 6 last year. A council neighbourhood warden observed the dog fouling on the pavement and Lamb failing to pick up the mess.

She was served with a fixed penalty notice under the council’s PSPO, introduced last June, under which it is an offence to allow a dog to foul without picking it up.

The notice was for £100 and would have been reduced to £60 if paid within working ten days. However Lamb failed to pay it and so was prosecuted by the council.

She pleaded guilty by letter to contravening the PSPO by failing to pick up after her dog.

At Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the letter was read out detailing how she was very sorry for her actions.

Lamb normally carries bags to pick up after her pet but did not have one on the occasion in question.

Magistrates fined her £100, ordered her to pay legal costs of £130 and a victim surcharge of £30.

Ian Hoult, the council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Dog fouling is an unpleasant stain on the environment and poses a health hazard, particularly in relation to children and areas where they play.

“It is so easy to take bags out when walking your dog so you can pick up after it.”