A man and woman have been fined for having too much dog faeces in their back garden.

Arron Morrison, 28, and Stacey Davis, 30, of Plains Field, Braintree, were taken to court by Braintree Council for numerous breaches of a Community Protection Notice served under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Both were summoned to Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday, May 24, but failed to attend.

Magistrates found the defendants guilty in their absence.

Both were fined £960, ordered to pay costs of £575.50 and a victim surcharge of £42.