A MAN has been ordered to pay almost £800 for failing to clean up after his dog.

Roger Jeffries, of Langdon Close, Consett, was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) after Durham County Council neighbourhood wardens observed two dogs owned by the defendant leave his property unsupervised and one of them fouled on nearby land.

The wardens had conducted the patrol in the Templetown area following a number of complaints concerning dogs straying and fouling in the area.

The wardens issued Jeffries with an FPN for £100, which if paid within 10 days would have been reduced to £60. However the FPN went unpaid and the matter proceeded to prosecution.

The 71-year-old pleaded not guilty and said in his defence that he had taken his dogs out for a walk before the wardens had seen them and he had just got back home at the time the wardens were there. He let the dogs out of the car, they played in the snow and then went back into the house.

The defendant also said that he was able to see his dogs the whole time and denied that one had fouled.

However, the magistrates at Peterlee Magistrates Court found the council’s case proven beyond reasonable doubt and Jeffries was fined £173, ordered to pay costs of £560 and a victim surcharge of £30, totalling a legal bill of £763.

Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Time and time again our communities tell us that dog fouling is blighting our beautiful county.

“It takes very little time and effort to clean up after your dog and we appreciate that most people do the right thing. However, we will take action against those who don’t and would ask that the public support us by reporting dog fouling by calling 03000 26 00 00 or visiting www.durham.gov.uk/dogfouling.”