A woman has been fined £200 after breaching an abatement notice.

Joanne Phillips, 39, of Brendon Drive, Halstead, did not attend Colchester Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 29 and was found guilty in her absence of failing to clear up a large amount of dog faeces in her back garden.

She was fined £200, made to pay £546 in compensation, £150 in prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Councillor Wendy Schmitt, cabinet member for Environment and Place, said: “We’re committed to making sure the district is clean, tidy and a nice place to live.

“This case shows that where people persistently cause nuisance to their neighbours and refuse to co-operate with the Council we will prosecute.”