A STRING of dog walkers have been fined hundreds of pounds in court for allowing their animals to be unaccompanied in public areas protected by a council order.

Magistrates sitting at Peterlee court on Tuesday (March 1) found the cases of Kirsty Herdman, Lynn Turner and Sammy Lea Thompson proved in their absence.

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All three were charged with failing to comply with a public spaces protection order under the anti-social behaviour act.

Durham County Council launched its Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) scheme in 2017 to tackle issues such as dog fouling and stray dogs.

It makes it an offence to allow a dog to stray, failing to keep a pet on a lead, or allowing dogs into areas covered by a PSPO.

The court heard that on July 1, 2021, Herdman, of Argyle Court, Kip Hill, allowed her dog to be unaccompanied on land at Argyle Court that was under a PSPO.

She was ordered to pay £464 in court fines, costs and charges.

Thompson, of Albert Street, Chester-le-Street was found guilty of allowing a dog to be unaccompanied on land at Chester-le-Street Hospital on July 7, 2021.

Thompson was ordered to pay a total of £464 in court fines, costs and charges.

Turner, also of Albert Street, Chester le Street, was found guilty of allowing a Staffordshire bull terrier type dog to be unaccompanied on land at Chester le Street on September 8, 2021, which was under a protection order.

The 53-year-old was fined £200 and additional court costs and charges brought the total she has to pay up to £464.

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