Woman ordered dog to attack children but demand backfired

Arbroath couple sentenced over ‘mayhem’

An Angus woman gave her dog orders to “eat” children during an incident described as “mayhem” – before it bit her partner instead.

Darren Clarke and Claire Pudsey, from Arbroath, threatened and chased a group of 12-year-olds after they were “egged on” by abuse.

The incident “escalated” after a parent arrived and Pudsey smashed his windscreen with a dog chain.

Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said the couple, of Strathairlie Avenue, approached the group in the town’s Burnside Drive around 10pm on March 7.

Pudsey, 43, told them they were aggravating her Staffordshire terriertype dog.

“She incited the dog to attack, saying kill them, eat them, and slapping its rear end,” he added.

“Pudsey then approached (one boy) and slapped him twice.

“The juveniles then ran off and were pursued by the accused.”

Another boy’s father was called and arrived in his car, only for Clarke to shout at him “you’re gonna get it”.

Clarke, 45, was taken to the ground by the man, and Pudsey told the dog to attack him.

Mr Duncan added: “By good fortune, the dog then began to attack Mr Clarke.”

The boys and the father got into their car to leave the scene, before Clarke swung on the wing mirror and Pudsey whipped her chain into the windscreen.

For Clarke, defence agent Brian Bell said: “Certain remarks were made by the children towards both him and his partner. But for the consumption of alcohol he might have walked away.”

For Pudsey, solicitor Billy Rennie said: “The end of this escalated into some form of mayhem. I’m not convinced the children wanted to get away from her.

“There’s an egging on of her that continued throughout.”

Sheriff Gregor Murray imposed community payback orders as a direct alternative to custody for both, with 155 hours of unpaid work for Clarke and 200 for Pudsey.

He told Pudsey: “If you still have that dog, and you still drink, you’d better get rid of it. If I had the power to disqualify you from keeping that kind of animal, I would.”

Clarke admitted causing a breach of the peace and damaging the car.

Pudsey admitted repeatedly inciting her dog to attack members of the public, assaulting a 12-year-old, and smashing a car windscreen.

“She incited the dog to attack, saying kill them, eat them, and slapping its rear end.

DEPUTE FISCAL STEWART DUNCAN