A Ribbleton man has been fined for failing to clean up after his dog and running off when being approached by a dog warden.

Richard Woodhead of Pope Lane failed to attend Preston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 22 April and was found guilty in his absence of failing to remove dog fouling immediately.

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Dog wardens were investigating reports of dog fouling in the Ribbleton Hall area when they witnessed a tan coloured terrier cross defecating on a grassland area on the junction of Farringdon Road with Pope Lane – and Mr Woodhead was holding the dog’s leads.

The court heard how Mr Woodhead pretended to pick up the dog poo with a tissue but ran off when approached by the dog warden.

In the following days Mr Woodhead was stopped by the dog warden, assisted by Preston Police, and told because he ran off he would not have the chance to pay a fixed penalty notice but would be prosecuted by Preston City Council.

The court fined Mr Woodhead £200, ordered him to pay £330 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Chief Environmental Health Officer, Craig Sharp said, “The Council appreciate that the majority of dog owners are responsible and clean up after their dogs and that they are just as annoyed at those few irresponsible owners as everybody else is. The Council is committed to tackling irresponsible dog owners and with the public’s support we will take robust enforcement action where necessary”.

Anyone wanting to report problems with dog fouling can do so via the city council website.