An XL bully dog attacked a 10-year-old in an “angry and vicious” frenzy which left the child scarred for life, a court has heard.
Gucci, owned by Lewis Williams, 23, escaped via an unlocked gate and proceeded to attack the young boy, with the canine “ragging” him around the garden.
The victim, who was wearing a bike helmet, had visited Williams’ home in Ebbw Vale, Wales, in summer last year. He had spotted the dog jumping over a side gate.
Newport Crown Court heard how the beast, who the boy described as “angry, vicious, and nasty”, then jumped up and bit the child in the neck, chin, arm, and under his armpit.
Williams’ mother, whom the 23-year-old lives with, tried to intervene and calm the dog down but to no avail.
The 10-year-old managed to push the dog away and quickly flee.
Prosecutor Mari Watkins said: “The child was scared and in pain as a result of this incident. The child’s father saw blood across his face and realised the severity of the situation.”
He was then taken to hospital to receive treatment for his injuries, which included bite marks, multiple puncture wounds, bruises, and deep lacerations.
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The 10-year-old underwent an operation and also had to attend three outpatient appointments.
Meanwhile, police visited the house where they discovered an “irate” Williams, who refused to hand over the dog.
Williams, who appeared confused at the officers’ presence, later wrote on social media: “Everyone who knows me knows I have got a very large dog. A sign on the property is clearly visible from the entrance to the garden: ‘If you choose to enter the property you enter at your own risk’.
“When I am present I can control my dog. If you needlessly walk through the gate and ever tend to my dog you do so at your own risk. That’s what the sign is for.”
In court, he passed the blame onto the victim, claiming the boy had hit the dog. He later pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury.
Since the incident, Gucci had been kept in kennels, costing around £15,000.
In a victim personal statement, the child’s mother said: “As a result of this incident [the victim] has suffered nightmares and sleepless nights about the dog attack. He has lost confidence around dogs. He always liked dogs but he is worried now of large dogs… He is suffering with anxiety and depression and is having therapy. He has started PTSD treatment this week.”
The 23-year-old was sentenced at Newport Crown Court
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William Bebb, defence, said that Williams “loves that dog very much and has never witnessed it being violent in the past”.
He added: “He has kept dogs all his life and loves dogs but he has the insight to recognise this dog constitutes something which is a danger to public safety.”
The court also heard that the 23-year-old was receiving benefits after leaving his engineering course following an accident.
Sentencing Recorder David Payne said Williams had shown “little discernible empathy” towards his victim, but believed it was likely he could be rehabilitated.
The 23-year-old was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 12 months and was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
Payne ordered the “humane destruction” of Gucci, and also banned Williams from owning a dog for three years, as well as ordering him to pay £1,000 in compensation to the victim.
XL Bully dogs, which are the largest type of American bulldog, have been illegal to own in England and Wales since January 31.
Source Agencies
