Bacup man caught on camera throwing dog waste into River Irwell

A pensioner has been ordered to pay more than £300 after he was recorded disposing of his dog waste in the river six times.

Geoffrey Wright of Lee Road, Bacup, was caught throwing the waste between 12^th and 14^th October 2018. He has ordered to pay £200 legal costs to Rossendale Borough Council and £133.34 for investigations costs.

Wright did not appear in court and pleaded guilty by post. He was given a 6 month conditional discharge on top of the fines. He was ordered to pay £20 a month due to being on a state pension.

He was charged with 6 offences of littering under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

In 2009 Rossendale Borough Council brought in a number of Dog Control Orders under the Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 that covered various areas in the borough covering the offences of not removing dog faeces, failing to keep a dog on the lead in designated areas, failing to adhere to a dog exclusion order and failing to adhere to a dogs on lead order as directed by an authorised officer

Councillor Jackie Oakes, Portfolio holder for Operations, said:

This behaviour was disgusting, it damages the environment and spoils it for the majority of people in the borough who want to live in a clean area. I hope this man feels ashamed of his behaviour. This is a good result and shows we take this sort of vile conduct very seriously.”