An Australian lawyer has gone to great lengths to avoid an $80 fine from the council, by hiring a QC to fight his case.

Lawyer Robert Fenwick Elliott had been on an Adelaide beach with his dog, an English Setter Purdy. While Elliott was having a dip in the sea, a local council member spotted the dog running along the beach unattended. The council fined the lawyer $80 on the basis that the dog was "wandering" alone.

A dog wandering alone. How it might have looked.

When Elliott disputed the fine, the council decided to take the matter to the Magistrates Court. Elliott brought in a legal heavyweight in the shape of criminal lawyer Michael Abbott QC, in order to "stand up to these bullies". The council dropped the case.

Elliott said that the council backed down since they "knew they were going to lose and that they were not only going to have egg on their face, but they were also going to have to pay my legal costs".  However, the council said that they decided not to proceed with the prosecution once Elliott had "agreed to abide by the laws", adding they were "quite surprised a QC turned up when all we're after is safety".

Elliott has now launched a petition to allow dogs to run freely on the local beaches.