OAP caught ditching dog poo in river

A PENSIONER who was filmed dumping dog waste SIX times into a river has been hit with a £300 legal bill.

Geoffrey Wright, of Lee Road, Bacup, was caught throwing the waste from a bridge into the River Irwell at the junction of Lee Road and Glen Street in Stacksteads.

Rossendale Council officers captured the ‘disgusting’ incidents between October 12 and 24 last year.

Wright has been ordered by magistrates to pay £200 legal costs to Rossendale council and £133.34 for investigations costs.

The defendant pleaded guilty by post and did not appear in person at the Burnley Magistrates Court hearing on Thursday, February 14.

The investigation and conviction was brought under powers granted to the council by Dog Control Orders.

In 2009 the council brought in a number of Dog Control Orders to cover various parts of the borough. They made it an offence for people to fail ●● Geoffrey Wright was caught throwing dog waste in the River Irwell to remove dog faeces, fail to keep a dog on the lead in designated areas, fail to adhere to a dog exclusion order and fail to adhere to a dogs on lead order as directed by an authorised officer.

Speaking after the court hearing, 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.”