A woman has been made to pay £387.52 after being taken to court for failing to pick up her dog's mess. Enforcement officers from Neath Port Talbot Council saw a small, white dog defecate on grass in Banwen village in Neath Port Talbot last August - but there was no effort from anyone to clear the mess.
After watching the dog return home, the officers approached the dog's owner, Stacey Richards, of Roman Road, and issued her with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £40 for not picking up after her dog.
But despite being granted extra time to pay the notice and being sent two reminders to do so, Richards, 37, failed to pay the £40 - so the council decided to prosecute. Later, appearing at Swansea Magistrates' Court on March 23, 2023, Richards admitted the offence and was ordered to pay out the £40 fine she owed, a £16 victim surcharge and court costs of £331.52.
