TEST Valley Borough Council should hang its head in shame over this dog fouling business.

Why on earth should a taxpayer-funded body be protecting a criminal by refusing to name someone who let their dog do its mess on the pavement and then refuse to pay the fine?

The council is well within its legal right to do so - this case was, after all, heard in an open, public court. British justice is supposed to be transparent. What kind of message does this give out?

I will tell you - it tells offenders that they can do what the y like because they will get away with it. In the highly unlikely event that they’re taken to court, the council will still protect them.

There is a massive public interest issue here. The attitude of this offender stinks, but so too does the council’s.

Mary Cole, Andover, via e-mail