Two men from Widnes have been ordered to remove their dog from their property and banned from keeping dogs anywhere in the borough of Halton for five years.
Ellis Mitchell, 27 and his father Christopher Mitchell, 57, have both been given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order applied for by Halton Borough Council.
The Order states that they must remove all dogs from their home address on Stewards Avenue in Widnes and that must not own, keep, participate in the keeping of dogs or be party to an arrangement under which they are entitled to control or influence the way in which dogs are kept on the property, whether on a permanent or temporary basis.
The Court heard that the Council had first received a complaint about two Belgian Malinois type dogs that were being kept in the rear garden of a property. The dogs barked constantly which led to the Council serving an abatement notice on the defendants in December 2024.
The Council continued to receive complaints about the dogs barking throughout the day and night in breach of their abatement notice that resulted in alarm, distress and harassment to the witnesses. On one day alone, on 27th September 2025, a total of 9,638 barks were recorded by the complainant.
In August 2025 the Council had to serve a second abatement notice on the two defendants in respect of the dogs after reports that they kept escaping from their pens. Despite repeated intervention from Council the defendants continued to keep the dogs in the rear garden where they barked and frequently escaped out into the local community.
Ellis Mitchell pleaded guilty to 20 breaches of his abatement notice. In addition, to the Criminal Behaviour Order he was fined a total of £533 plus a £213 victim surcharge.
Christopher Mitchell pleaded guilty to 11 breaches of his abatement notice. In addition to his Criminal Behaviour Order, he was fined a total of £666 plus a £266 victim surcharge. The Council were awarded full costs of £1,780.
A Halton Borough Council spokesman said: “Noise nuisance can have a seriously detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of people living in our communities. We hope that this recent case serves as a further reminder that we will not hesitate to pursue robust enforcement action against the most serious and persistent offenders to protect the health and well-being of our residents. The Council would like to acknowledge the co-operation of the witnesses in this case which enabled the Council to fully investigate and resolve the matter.”