On April 23rd 1980, my Dad took my dog Taurus out for a walk on Marl Mountain, Tommy Marl made a complaint that the dog had been worrying sheep.
My Dad was approached by The Mob to say that there had been a complaint made and asked was he the owner, he replied no, that his son was the owner of the dog.
I was then summonsed to Llandudno juvenile court to appear in front of the Magistrate to answer the charge of being the owner of a dangerous dog and fined 35 pence.
I failed to pay the 35 pence fine and was back in front of the magistrates on 30th July, where I made an offer to pay 5 pence a week, at this the magistrate blew a gasket, I then offered to increase it to 10 pence a week as I had a paper round, thinking the magistrate was mad with me, but she wasn’t.
She was aiming her frustrations at the prosecution, she couldn’t believe they had gone to the incredible expense of prosecuting me all for a fine of 35 pence, she even took the time to apologise to me, explaining her reasons for being so frustrated, in the end and for the sake of peace, my solicitor paid the fine there and then, I duly paid him back.
My Dad with the family pet
Me aged 15 with Taurus
Should this case have even gone to court, especially as this was my first offence?
JFT 96 – YNWA