A Worcester resident who allowed his persistently barking dog to cause a nuisance to neighbours has been fined a total of £3,750 by Magistrates.
Worcester City Council served a Noise Nuisance Abatement Notice in the Claines area of the city, following complaints from neighbours.
The man did not respond to the Notice, and further complaints were received from neighbours that he was still not controlling his barking dog. As a result, the City Council prosecuted him for breach of the Notice.
Councillor Richard Udall, Chair of Worcester City Council’s Licensing and Environmental Health Committee, said: “Our residents have the right to live in peace in their own homes, and this case sends a clear signal that the City Council will take action against those who have no consideration for their neighbours.
“The message is clear: it’s not an option to simply ignore formal requests or legal Notices from the Council. We won’t go away, and not doing anything will only make matters worse for the perpetrator in the end.”
Worcester Magistrates heard that neighbours first complained about the barking in August 2024. Officers from Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS), acting for the City Council, issued an informal warning letter to the owner of the dog in October 2024 and then set up monitoring equipment at a neighbouring house to gather evidence of the persistent barking.
Magistrates were told that analysis of recordings from the monitoring equipment showed that the barking was very regular and occurring on a daily basis, causing a significant disturbance to neighbours. In response, the Council visited the dog owner’s home on 17 January 2025 to serve him with a Noise Nuisance Abatement Notice.
The persistent barking continued, and more complaints were received from a neighbour just a few days later. Monitoring equipment was set up again in a neighbouring house in March and April, providing evidence to show eight breaches of the Noise Nuisance Abatement Notice between 27 March and 4 April.
Despite warnings from officers, the dog owner made no attempt to contact WRS to discuss the matter and find a solution. The man was invited to a formal interview on 17 April, but failed to attend. As a result, the City Council prosecuted him for the breaches of the Notice.
The case was heard on 16 October 2025. The defendant was fined a total of £2,500, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £1,000 and costs of £250.
Any Worcester residents experiencing similar issues are encouraged to report them to Worcestershire Regulatory Service on 01905 822799, or at
