Dog owner gets £1,000 charge and three-year Criminal Behaviour Order
The owner of an uncontrolled, un-microchipped and aggressive dog has been sentenced by York Magistrates Court.
Following a number of incidents of a nine-year-old grey Staffordshire bull terrier called Lola attacking other dogs and straying, its owner Andrew Bartle (aged 53 of Foxwood Lane, York) has now been ordered to pay £1,098 and has been handed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order.
In January 2025, Mr Bartle was given a Community Order. This followed convictions for breaching a Community Protection Notice and for having an un-chipped bull terrier-breed dog dangerously out of control. This order required that only Mr Bartle handle his dog outside the home, that he always keep it muzzled and on a fixed length lead. In the 18 weeks following this order, the dog escaped his control a further five times.
On 18 September 2025, Mr Bartle admitted to York Magistrates that he had continued to breach the Community Protection Notice, letting Lola stray, and had still not microchipped either of his two dogs. Sentencing was adjourned until 16 October 2025. In early October, Lola strayed twice more.
On 16 October 2025, the Court issued Mr Bartle with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to protect the public which ordered him to contain and control his dog, Lola. Mr Bartle’s CBO will last for three years. The Court also ordered Mr Bartle to pay £1,098, of which £320 was a fine, £128 a victim surcharge and £650 towards prosecution costs. Breaching a CBO can lead to a prison sentence.
Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Community Safety at City of York Council, said: “Our recent consultation on allowing a dog to foul in public places or not control it properly, has led to a citywide ban. We do not tolerate irresponsible dog owners, who do not micro-chip their dogs or keep them under proper control. Owners of dogs which pose a danger to others or cause fear must face the consequences, as this case shows.
“We welcome this order by York Magistrates which we will continue to monitor and enforce.”
Find out more about controlling your dog in York, and Government guidance on controlling a dog in public and microchipping.