£400 fine for dog owner who let canines roam on BMX track

Man called RTC warden a 'jobsworth' after being stopped last summer

A Ramsey man has been fined £400 after being caught exercising his dogs on the BMX track in the northern town.

David Allan Jeff, of Gladstone Avenue, was stopped by a community warden on 18 August last year.

They’d spotted his terrier and poodle in the restricted area and noticed them both defecating.

When the 33-year-old was challenged by the warden he began swearing, called him a ‘jobsworth’ and refused to give his details.

Ramsey Town Commissioners identified Jeff in October and issued four fixed penalty notices before starting the prosecution.

At Douglas Courthouse Jeff admitted having a dog at large via coroner’s admission – the offence is in contravention of Ramsey Byelaws; he told the court paying the penalties had ‘slipped my mind’.

Magistrates described Jeff’s attitude towards the warden as ‘not appropriate’ adding: “It’s unfortunate that some dog owners give other dog owners a bad name.” 

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £280.