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A Bishopsworth man has been ordered to pay more than £1,400 after failing to clear up dog poo in his garden.

Robert Bowyer, 31, was issued with a community protection notice demanding that he clear the waste from his back yard and the path beside his flat on Four Acres.

But he failed to comply with the notice between April 23 and May 18, during which time he allowed dog faeces to accumulate.

Bowyer’s failure to comply was proven in his absence on September 11 at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, where magistrates said he must pay £1,446.23.

What happened when we visited

(Image: Conor Gogarty)

When Bristol Live visited Four Acres on September 18, we found dog poo could be seen across several parts of Bowyer’s garden.

His neighbour Nicola, who did not wish to give her surname, said she had not made a complaint about the waste, but was aware of the issue.

The 62-year-old said: “His Staffordshire Bull Terrier is pretty friendly, but if I ever have to knock on Robert’s door, I have to step over the dog dirt.”

(Image: Conor Gogarty)

She expressed sympathy for postal workers and said they struggle to avoid the dog poo when delivering mail.

“I can't understand the way people think when they can't be bothered to tidy up,” Nicola added.

Rat problem

She believes the dog waste may be the cause of a rat problem in her own back garden.

(Image: Conor Gogarty)

“I have had to start leaving traps,” Nicola said. “It's annoying.”

Speaking about the flies buzzing around Bowyer’s yard, she added: “It must be because of the dog dirt. Luckily I haven't noticed many flies in my yard.”

Bowyer has been ordered to pay a £440 fine, prosecution costs of £962.23 and a victim surcharge of £44 – a total of £1,446.23.

The court has made a remedial order requiring the defendant to dispose of the waste.

Bowyer has been approached for comment.

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