A dog walker who failed to clean up after his pet fouled a West Mersea beach must pay more than £1,000.

David Rourke, of High Street, West Mersea, was spotted by a Colchester Borough Council zone warden on Kingsland Beach during a morning stroll last April.

The warden approached Rourke and told him what the dog had done, but Rourke said he had not seen the incident.

He gave his address and was issued a £50 fine by post.

But Rourke failed to pay, despite repeated reminders, so the council took him to court to resolve the issue.

The bench at Colchester Magistrates’ Court last week found Rourke guilty in his absence and imposed a 14-day collection order to recover the outstanding fine and court costs, totalling £1.045.

Tim Young, borough councillor for community safety, said: “Dog mess is unpleasant and unhealthy and ruins everyone’s enjoyment of our streets, parks and beaches.

“This case sends a clear message to the minority of dog-walkers who still fail to clear up after their pets, that we will not tolerate their anti-social behaviour.

“Our seven dedicated zone teams are doing a great job protecting local environments, but they cannot be everywhere at once, which is why we encourage residents who spot irresponsible owners not clearing up after their dogs to report such incidents to the council’s environmental and protective services.”

To report dog fouling call on 01206 282581 or email customerservices@colchester.gov.uk.