One of the worst cases of noise nuisance ever investigated by Halton Borough Council has concluded with a Widnes man being banned from keeping dogs anywhere in the borough.
John Peter Laveric, 46, was given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order by Warrington Magistrates Court on Tuesday following an application by Halton Borough Council. The Order states that he must remove all dogs from his property on Pit Lane, in Widnes, and must not have any dog on those premises or at any other premises in the borough of Halton.
The Court heard that the Council first received noise complaints about noise from barking dogs at Mr Laveric’s previous address on Eric Street, Widnes in May 2017.
In April 2018 the Council prosecuted Mr Laveric in what was then one of the worst cases of noise nuisance the Council had ever dealt with. The Council applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order and in April 2018 this was granted by the court and he was ordered to remove his dogs from Eric Street.
In May 2018 the Council received the first of a number of complaints about noise from barking dogs at his property on Pit Lane.
The Council subsequently prosecuted Mr Laveric again in February 2022 where he pleaded guilty to breaching a noise abatement notice that had been served on him in July 2019. The Council’s application for a second Criminal Behaviour Order was adjourned but complaints continued and at a hearing on Tuesday 8 November the Court granted a second Criminal Behaviour Order which now prohibits Mr Laveric from keeping dogs on any premises within the borough of Halton.
During the hearing the court heard that over a three-year period 11 neighbouring properties complained to the Environmental Health Department of excessive barking from dogs kept at the property on Pit Lane. In court witnesses described how the anxiety and stress significantly impacted their mental health and quality of life.
Some of the worst incidents presented to the court as evidence showed that:
On 6 May 2021 his dogs barked approximately 514 times in a 13 minute period
On 9 March 2021 his dogs barked approximately 1293 times in a 47 minute period and
On 20 March 2021 his dogs barked approximately 1645 time in a 20 minute period.
Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones, the Council’s portfolio holder for Environmental Health, says: “This is one of the worst cases of noise nuisance that the Environmental Health team have dealt with and has involved considerable nuisance impacting the quality of life of a number of Mr Laveric’s neighbours over a five-year period at two-different properties.
“We hope that this case sends out a message that we will not hesitate to pursue robust enforcement action against the worst offenders in order to protect the health and well-being of our residents.
“The Council would like to recognise the patience and resilience showed by residents during the lengthy legal process and the courage of those who attended court to give evidence. I also commend the professionalism and diligence of the investigating officer and our legal team who have pursued this case through the courts to secure justice for the local residents.”