A dog walker faces a huge bill after failing to clear up muck during a trip to a popular beach.
Yvonne Wakefield, of Dallas Brett Crescent, in Folkestone was caught walking away from the dog mess while at The Warren and now has to pay more than £800 because of the incident.
It occurred at the Site of Special Scientific Interest in April this year.
Ms Wakefield failed to provide her details to the Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) officer but was identified following an investigation.
She also failed to attend a hearing at Margate Magistrates’ Court on October 31 but was found guilty of breaching a public spaces protection order despite her absence.
She was given a £440 fine, and also ordered to pay £200 costs and a £176 victim surcharge.
Cabinet member for transport, regulatory services and building control at FHDC, Cllr Polly Blakemore, said: “It’s sad our officers have to spend so much time trying to clamp down on those who don’t value our environment and natural heritage, but we won’t relent.
“Dog fouling is deeply unpleasant, and it is the owner’s responsibility – no one else’s – to clear up after them.
“We believe this outcome will prove to be a valuable lesson.”
Dover was revealed as the dog poo capital of Kent, being branded a “dump” by concerned residents who claimed its parks were littered with muck.
A KentOnline investigation last year revealed that local authorities across the county had received 2,575 reports of uncleaned mess from locals since 2020.
Yet just 1% of incidents had resulted in owners being fined, as council bosses said it was a difficult issue to crack down on.
Previously, a man was slapped with a £100 fixed penalty notice after eyewitnesses saw him throw a bag of dog waste onto private land near Greatstone.
Residents can report dog fouling on Folkestone and Hythe District Councils website.
