Man set dog on Muslims in ‘campaign of racism’
A MAN who set his dog on two Muslims during a ‘campaign of racism’ has been jailed.
Jakub Wendland’s cross-breed bull terrier bit a man and left a woman traumatised.
During one attack, the 32-year-old shouted: “You bite her, bite her, they kill people. So go on, bite a Muslim.”
The Polish national, who denies being a racist, was jailed for two-and-ahalf years at Manchester Crown Court.
Prosecuting, Christopher Beckwith said Bakhtshireen Rehman was bitten by the dog on Stockport Road in Longsight about 10am on June 25.
The court heard that Wendland asked Mr Rehman if he would open a bottle of beer for him. When he refused, Wendland became aggressive and called the victim a ‘Muslim Kurdi.’
Mr Rehman, 26, tried to walk away, but Wendland set the animal on him. He was bitten several times before being punched.
Wendland ran off and got on a bus into Manchester city centre, where he targeted his next victim two hours later.
Sundus Mirza, 28, was on her way to work on Market Street at around 12.50pm. Wendland said to his dog: “Go on, bite her, bite her. They kill people, bite her.”
Ms Mirza started screaming before passersby rushed to help her.
Police were called and Wendland was later found in an ‘intoxicated state.’ He spat at two officers and threatened to kill them.
Mr Rehman, who suffered bruising to his arm, said he was afraid to go outside in a statement read to the court.
Ms Mirza said she was left feeling ‘petrified.’
Defending, Simon Blakebrough said Wendland wanted to apologise to his victims and said he had no recollection of the events as he had been drinking.
“He does not consider himself as a racist. He can’t believe he behaved in this way,” he added.
Judge Tony Cross QC told Wendland: “You are, in my judgement, quite clearly a racist. This was a campaign of racism.”
The dog will not be put down if suitable accommodation is found.
Wendland, of Wray Place, Rochdale, was banned from possessing a dog indefinitely having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated public order offences, one count of common assault and two counts of assaulting a police officer.