A DOG walker was fined £1,400 for walking his pet through a crematorium.

Carl Wild was collared by Brighton and Hove City Council officers for walking his dog through Woodvale Crematorium a total of 17 times since April 1 this year – despite being told not to.

Prosecutor Len Batten said Wild, of Melbourne Street, Brighton, was given “several warnings” by staff and park rangers but continued to exercise his pet through the crematorium in Lewes Road.

Mr Batten also told magistrates that on the morning of one of the court hearings, which Mr Wild did not attend, he was spotted walking his dog at Woodvale at 5.36am.

The 29-year-old was prosecuted under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, which says dog wakling is banned at certain cemeteries, children’s play areas, certain city centre squares, memorial gardens and parks.

Mr Wild was eventually prosecuted after refusing to pay a fixed penalty charge.

He was fined £1,000, ordered to pay £300 costs and a £100 victim surcharge at Eastbourne Magistrates Court.

The Argus visited Mr Wild at his home yesterday but he said he did not want to comment.

In a separate hearing at Eastbourne Magistrates Court, Anne Barrett, of Briarcroft Road, Woodingdean, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 costs after admitting failing to keep her dog under control.

The court heard that Barrett’s German Shepherd dog Millie attacked a spaniel at Briarcroft Road, Woodingdean, in January this year.

Magistrates also ordered Barratt to keep her dog on a short lead and muzzled while walking in public places.

Ms Barrett also declined to comment yesterday.

Sue Watson, Brighton and Hove City Council’s senior animal welfare officer, said: “We are very pleased at these results as they highlight how important it is to keep dogs under control and be a responsible dog owner.”

Background

Last year The Argus reported that just one prosecution has been made for dog fouling in the past two years – despite hundreds of complaints.

Brighton and Hove City Council received 827 complaints from fed-up residents in 2012 and 2013 about pet owners who did not pick up their dogs’ mess.

But just one person was fined during that period – despite the authority having the power to issue £80 fixed penalty notices.

The council said its animal welfare team currently handles dog fouling complaints but prosecutions could only be brought if they were in the “right place at the right time”.