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A dog owner has been fined and ordered to pay costs totalling thousands - for failing to pick up his dog's poo.

Carl Davies, formerly of Royal Sands, Weston-super-Mare but who now lives in London, had been captured on camera letting his dog mess on the Beach Lawns in March last year.

Davies pleaded not guilty to three offences of failing to pick up after his dog on the seafront - an area which is covered by a council public space protection order.

Under the order it is an offence not to pick up after your dog or produce a receptacle to clear up its mess.

Those flouting the orders risk being issued with a fine.

However after legal argument about the admissibility of video evidence and a two-day trial at North Somerset Magistrates Court, District Judge David Taylor found Davies guilty of all three offences.

(Image: Getty)

Davies was fined £100 for each offence.

He was also ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £3,873 in costs to North Somerset Council – a total of £4,203.

The successful prosecution was brought by the council after a local resident saw Davies walking his dog on a number of occasions, failing to pick up after it, and began to film him.

The resident handed his footage to the council who originally tried to deal with the matter by way of fixed penalty notices.

Davies declined to pay the penalty notices and so the council brought the case to court.

North Somerset Council executive member for environment Councillor Peter Bryant said the conviction was a strong reminder to dog owners to pick up after their pets:

Mr Bryant said: "My thanks to council officers for gathering the evidence and prosecuting the case. Thanks too to the resident who helped us secure the conviction.

“Mr Davies showed scant regard for others when he failed to pick up after his dog and he has had to pay a heavy price for his anti-social behaviour.

"This conviction comes as a strong and powerful warning to other irresponsible dog owners.”