On Tuesday 28 October 2025, at Hereford Magistrates’ Court, the court heard that Cally-Mai Donnelly (27) of Openfields, Bromyard, persistently failed to comply with the terms of her CPN issued by officers from Herefordshire Council.

The court was told that Donnelly was first issued with a Community Protection Warning in October 2024, outlining conditions that prohibited her from depositing or accumulating waste on communal areas of Openfields, from allowing dogs under her control to occupy those areas, and from acting aggressively or abusing council officers.

After quickly breaching these conditions, a Community Protection Notice was served under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Between 16 May 2025 and 20 June 2025, Donnelly was found to have repeatedly tied dogs on communal land and dumped household waste around the site, including across an unoccupied plot and turning area specifically covered by her CPN. Officers also reported receiving abusive text messages and emails from Donnelly, and on 25 June 2025 she verbally assaulted and threatened a visiting investigating officer.

Magistrates heard about the long-standing waste and anti-social behaviour issues at Openfields and the detrimental impact Donnelly’s behaviour had caused to other residents. In her absence, the court imposed fines and costs totalling £993. The conviction marks an important step in holding persistent offenders to account. Herefordshire Council is now pursuing further legal measures to prevent continued breaches and protect both officers and law-abiding residents at the site.

Cllr Barry Durkin, Cabinet Member Roads and Regulatory Services, said: “I welcome this conviction as a firm step towards protecting our communities and council staff from unacceptable behaviour. Everyone deserves to live in a safe and respectful environment, and this outcome shows that Herefordshire Council will take decisive action when individuals persistently flout the rules. We will continue to support responsible residents and ensure our officers can carry out their duties without fear of abuse or intimidation.”

Charles Yarnold, Head of Regulatory and Technical Services at Herefordshire Council, said: “This conviction sends a clear message that we will not tolerate behaviour that endangers staff or undermines the safety and wellbeing of our sites. The court’s decision reinforces the importance of complying with legal notices, and where individuals continue to disregard them, we will escalate enforcement. Our priority is to protect the many responsible residents who want to live in a safe, well-managed environment and to ensure council officers can do their jobs without fear of abuse or intimidation. The majority of Openfields residents act responsibly and take pride in their community, and they deserve to live free from the disruption and intimidation caused by a small minority who refuse to follow the rules.”

Breaching a Community Protection Notice is a criminal offence. Offenders can receive a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 or face prosecution with fines of up to £2,500 for individuals and £20,000 for businesses.