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Police were called when a row broke out between a pensioner and council enforcement officers over dog poo.

St Ninians man, William Todd said enforcement officers did not give him the opportunity to pick up his dog’s mess before imposing an £80 fine on him.

The 70–year old was walking his seven year old Lurcher, Rocky, at the King’s Knot in Stirling on Thursday morning when he was snared by the Stirling Council

staff.

Mr Todd, of Cornhill Crescent, uses a walking stick and explained he is losing the feeling in his legs as a result of diabetes.

He said: “I was walking by the wall at the King’s Knot, next to the main road and my dog defecated about 100 yards away and I said to myself that I would get it on my way back because my legs aren’t

good and I don’t have much mobility.

“But before I got the chance to go back for it two council enforcement officers approached me to tell me that I had committed an

offence.

“I explained that I was going to pick it up on my way back but they told me that they didn’t believe me and were issuing me with an £80 fine.”

Mr Todd says that the officers were equipped with chest-mounted cameras and began filming

him.

“I explained to them that I wouldn’t be paying it and they insisted on me giving my name and address.

“They told me that they were going to call the police if I didn’t give them my details.

“About 20 minutes later, the police showed up and I had a chat with them and I gave the police my name and address, as I’m required to do.

“One enforment officer said: ‘I don’t think you were coming back to pick it up’. Essentially I’ve been found guilty there and then on the spot.

“They wouldn’t give me the opportunity to pick it up.”

The incident occurred at around 10.50am, but later that evening, Mr Todd says enforcement officers attended at his home to serve him with the fixed penalty notice.

He has been ordered to pay the £80 fine within 28 days or the sum will increase to £100.

However, he insists that he will not be paying the amount and will take the case through the courts.

However, Stirling Council said Mr Todd committed an offence by failing to disclose his details and that’s why the police were called.

A spokesperson for the council said: “We take dog fouling extremely seriously. Apart from being unsightly, it poses a public health risk and it’s an offence not to immediately remove the

dog fouling from any public

space.

“Two enforcement officers on patrol spotted Mr Todd’s dog foul at the King’s Knot, a popular walking and recreational area used by families.

“Having made no attempt to pick up the mess, he was approached by the enforcement officers.

“After refusing to provide his details, which is an offence, the officers followed correct procedures by contacting Police Scotland, who attended and required Mr Todd to do so.

“As normal practice, they later issued him with a fixed penalty notice at his home.”

Mr Todd was one of those involved in much-publicised rows between Stirling Allotment Association plot holders in 2014 and 2015.

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