A DOG owner who refused to pay a £75 fine is set to receive a bill for more than £1,750 after he failed to clear up his dog's mess.

Paul Halcrow, of Plymouth Road, Chafford Hundred, was found guilty of the offence at Basildon Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The 31-year-old originally denied the offence which happened in March - where he failed to clear up after his boxer who had left excrement on a patch of grass near his home - but was caught  out after council officers stepped up patrols in the area following complaints by residents.

Halcrow failed to appear for three hearings and was eventually found guilty after photographic evidence was produced in court.

He was hit with a £500 fine and ordered to pay costs of £1,210.52. A victim surcharge of £50 was also imposed. A 14 day collection order was made on the fine.

Councillor Angie Gaywood, the council’s portfolio holder for public protection, said: “While Thurrock Council wants to crack down hard on this sort of environmental crime and welcomes Monday’s decision by the magistrates, it would prefer to sort things out more quickly.

“Had this man engaged with the council he could have been offered a £75 fixed penalty fine, not a £1,200 bill from magistrates’ court two weeks before Christmas.”