Hefty first dog fouling prosecution served by Cambridge city council

A Cambridge man has been ordered to pay a fine and legal costs for failing to clear up dog mess on Midsummer Common.

Jacob Hackin, of Shelly Row, Cambridge, was ordered to pay a total of £230 by Cambridge magistrates for failing to scoop the poop.

One of the city council's public realm enforcement officers saw Hackin and issued him with a fixed penalty notice as an alternative to prosecution.

When he failed to pay the fine, the matter was referred to the court.

Hackin attended the hearing and pleaded guilty. In mitigation he said he had been stupid not to have paid the fixed penalty notice.

He was ordered to pay a fine of £75, a contribution towards the council's costs of £125 and a £30 victim surcharge.

Cllr Anna Smith, executive councillor for streets and open spaces, said:"I hope this first prosecution for dog fouling sends a clear message that people who don't pick up their dogs' mess will not be tolerated in Cambridge.

In the 12 months to March last year, the council issued 15 penalty notices for dog fouling in Cambridge, of which 93 per cent were paid within the 14-day period.