A couple have been ordered to pay a total of more than £1,700 in fines and costs for breaching a noise abatement notice by allowing their two dogs to persist in barking noisily.

Prosecution
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  • Council: Pembrokeshire County Council

Case 1

  • Fine: £140
  • Costs: £769
  • Total: £909

Case 2

  • Fine: £40
  • Costs: £769
  • Total: £809

Andrew and Linda Baker of the Dale Road, Haverfordwest, were served with noise abatement notices in December 2011 requiring them to put measures in place to ensure their dogs did not bark persistently and give rise to a noise nuisance.

The notices were served following complaints of dogs barking excessively at the couple’s home.

However, further complaints were received that Mr and Mrs Baker’s dogs were barking through the night, and noise monitoring was carried out in person on 9th and 10th May 2013.

The monitoring witnessed the existence of a noise nuisance through the persistent barking of dogs at the property. This constituted a breach of the noise abatement notices served in December 2011 and an offence under s80(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

A prosecution was brought by Pembrokeshire County Council, which came before Haverfordwest magistrates on Wednesday.

Following a contested trial, Magistrates convicted Mr and Mrs Baker of the offence against each of them. Mr Baker was ordered to pay a fine of £140, a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £769; and Mrs Baker was ordered to pay a fine of £40, a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £769.