West Berkshire Council drops charges against Hermitage dog owner

WEST Berkshire Council has dropped charges against a woman under the Animal Health Act 1981.

She will now be entitled to compensation for her legal costs and other expenses.

The 43-year-old defendant had been accused of failing to microchip pets and allowing a dog out on the road without a collar.

Specifically, Linda Clarke of Stable View, Oare, Hermitage, faced two charges of permitting a dog to be in a highway without a collar with the name and address of the owner attached to it on November 22, 2019.

She also faced two charges of failing to have dogs microchipped in compliance with an order on February 5, 2020.

Ms Clarke, who is also known as Linda Banham, had pleaded not guilty to each charge.

At Reading Magistrates' Court on Monday, January 24, the council offered no evidence on any of the charges and they were formally dismissed.

The court also ordered a proportion of Ms Clarke's expenses and legal costs to be paid from central funds.