Pet owner fined £1,500 for letting his dog poop in his own garden Craig Wood, 25, from Benfleet, Essex, had failed to clean up after the animal despite complaints from locals over the foul smell

A pet owner who refused to clean up his dog’s mess in his own garden after neighbours complained of the stink has been fined £1,500.

Craig Wood, 25, from Benfleet, Essex, had failed to clean up after the animal when it did its business and it had built up, leaving a foul stench.

Castle Point Borough Council ordered him to clean up the leavings and ensure the problem that had left “neighbours frustrated” would not be repeated.

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But Mr Wood failed to tackle the mess deemed to be an environmental nuisance and council officials took him to court.

Warning

One local, who asked not to be named, agreed with the council for taking action and hoped the move would be a “warning to others”.

The resident told the Halstead Gazette: “I don’t live in the block, so have not dealt with it directly, but I have been told and I think a few neighbours were getting frustrated.

“It can’t be nice to see, and we all know dog mess stinks, so you’d be very annoyed if you could constantly smell it.

“Fair play to the council for taking action against him, hopefully it is a bit of a warning to others.”

Dog fouling

A council spokesman said: “Environmental Health was notified last summer of accumulations of dog fouling in a garden which was causing an odour nuisance to a local resident.

“Following a visit, an abatement notice was served requiring the mess to be cleared and also to prevent dog fouling accumulating again. “Further complaints were received and despite being given a written warning, Mr Wood continued to breach the notice.”

Mr Wood was brought before Basildon Magistrates Court by the council last Monday and pleaded guilty to five breaches of the notice.

He was fined £1,485 for the breaches, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £31 and full costs of £1,289.75 were awarded to the council.