Sheffield couple with 20 huskies fined £2,400 for noise nuisance

Stephen and Lynette Hinchliffe, of Armitage Road, Deepcar, have been fined for ignoring a noise abatement notice issued by Sheffield Council after complaints by neighbours that the dogs’ howling was stopping them sleeping.

The Hinchliffes were issued with warning letters in March 2015 but the problem continued.

A noise monitoring device was installed at a nearby property and recorded 20 instances, over a period of a week, where the noise was loud enough to be considered a statutory nuisance.

A noise abatement notice was issued to the couple in July - but they failed to comply, with monitoring equipment installed in September 2015 recording 40 instances of excessive noise - mainly in the early morning.

Following a trial at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, Mr Hinchliffe, 52, and Mrs Hinchliffe, 45, were each fined £500 and ordered to pay £475 costs to Sheffield Council and £200 compensation to their neighbours, as well as a victim surcharge of £50.

Councillor Bryan Lodge, cabinet member for the environment, welcomed the outcome of the case.

“We are very pleased with this result,” he said.

“The financial penalty reflects the misery of the neighbours caught up in this issue.

“We take all noise complaints seriously, and although we will make every effort to resolve complaints at an early stage, if our help and advice is ignored we will use formal action.

“We hope that this action serves as a warning to others.”

Problems with noise can be reported to Sheffield Council on 0114 2734567.