A DOG walker was given a £75 fine for walking his well-behaved pet through a Croydon park - despite there being no signs to indicate the ban.
Roy Barnes was walking his 10-year-old black American cocker spaniel Toby through Queen's Gardens next to the council offices at Bernard Weatherill House when he was stopped by an enforcement officer.
The 64-year-old voluntary worker was told he was not allowed to walk the pooch through the green space and was issued a fine on the spot.
Mr Barnes, who had never walked his dog on the council land before, said the Fell Road entrance he walked through did not have any signs indicating he could not walk through the park.
He said: "It just makes no sense and I was really disgusted. Even when I offered a polite explanation he was having none of it.
"I told him it was fair enough if they were the rules and I wouldn't do it again but he still issued it.
"It's this sort of thing that gives authority figures a bad name. He seemed to be trying to make the most of what little authority he's got."
After he was given the fine, two police officers arrived at the scene and questioned why Mr Barnes had been fined.
When the officers were told the reason, Mr Barnes said they seemed shocked at the petty by-law and called the enforcement officer back.
The dog-lover tried to appeal against his notice but was told he was not allowed and could only make representation.
Once Mr Barnes has made representation, the next step would be to take the matter to court, so he decided to pay the fine.
Mr Barnes said: "I don't want to go to court. I paid the fine because I don't want a criminal record. I checked a number of times and there were definitely no signs there.
"He was only a young lad so he probably thought he had to do his job to the letter, but I was just furious. The dog was on the lead and he didn't go to the toilet so it just doesn't seem fair."
A council spokesman said: "The council will always listen to representations against penalty charge notices issued in circumstances such as this and each case is judged on its merits.
"We endeavour to ensure all signage is clear but where this is found to not be the case we take suitable steps to ensure things are put right."
