Bull terrier attacked two dogs, court told

A WOMAN whose out-of-control Staffordshire bull terrier attacked two dogs and injured their owners has been given a community order.

Amelia Hall, 26, was unable to control the dog, named Goldie.

Hall, of Newquay, appeared at Truro Crown Court, where she pleaded guilty to two counts of being the owner of a dog that caused injury whilst dangerously out of control.

Prosecuting the case, Nigel Wraith described how Goldie was made subject of a voluntary control order in July 2020 after he went for a neighbour’s cat and caused minor injury to the owner.

On March 26 last year, a lady was walking along East Street in Newquay with her partner and two Yorkshire terriers. Goldie came running towards them and picked up one of the dogs and shook it. As the woman tried to intervene, she suffered an injury to a thumb.

The woman was left traumatised and her dog with a wound on its body. During the incident, Hall became abusive and shouted at the couple to get off her dog.

Mr Wraith said: “They saw the defendant later in the day and she said she would pay for the vets’ bill, but the following day she changed her mind.”

Some months later, on June 14, a couple were on holiday at Par Sands Holiday Park and went out for a walk with their dogs. They walked past Hall’s caravan, where she was staying in temporary accommodation, and Goldie charged out and attacked a lurcher.

The man tried to get Goldie off and was bitten in several places as Hall punched and kicked her dog to try to get him off. Hall blamed her children for leaving the caravan door open and the dog was left with various bite marks requiring stitches. Hall offered to pay the vets’ bills but no payment was ever received.

The vets’ bills resulting from the first attack totalled £879 and the second £780.

Sentencing Hall, Judge Anna Richardson said Hall’s abuse of the first couple was “totally unnecessary”. She added: “You had a difficult upbringing and suffer mental health problems. It is to your credit that you have gone 10 years without offending. At the time you were in an abusive relationship and your life was in a state of crisis. You were clearly unable to cope with your children and the dog.”

Hall was given an 18 month community order. She must also pay compensation of £150 to each victim.

An order was also made regarding Goldie which featured a number of conditions, one of which that the dog must be muzzled in public.