Dog owners fined as council bites back!

Walking a dog in a prohibited area has proved costly for one Brighton resident.

Carl Wild, of Melbourne Street, Brighton has been fined £1,000, and ordered to pay £300 costs and £100 victim surcharge after admitting regularly walking his dog in Woodvale Cemetery.

Len Batten, prosecuting on behalf of Brighton & Hove City Council, told Eastbourne Magistrates that Wild had been caught walking his husky dog in Woodvale cemetery 17 times since April 1 this year. Despite several warnings by cemetery staff and park rangers, Wild continue to exercise his dog on the cemetery grounds. He was eventually prosecuted after refusing to pay a fixed penalty charge.

Mr Batten also told magistrates that on the morning of the court hearing, which Wild did not attend, he was spotted walking his dog at Woodvale at 5.36 am.

In a separate hearing at Eastbourne Magistrates Court, Ann Barrett, of Briarcroft Road, Woodingdean was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 costs after admitting failing to keep her dog under control. The court heard that Barrett’s German Shepherd dog Millie attacked a spaniel at Briarcroft Road, Woodingdean

Magistrates also ordered Barratt to keep her dog on a short lead and muzzled while walking in public places.