Man faces jail for dog attack that killed man

A MAN whose mongrel bull terrier attacked and killed his neighbour has been told by a judge he is facing “a very long custodial term”.

Aaron Joseph, 30, was found guilty of being the owner of a dog which caused death while it was dangerously out of control by a jury at Leeds Crown Court after just over half-an-hour of deliberations.

The jury heard how Mr Ellam, 52, died as he walked his Yorkshire terrier, Rollo, and was attacked by Joseph’s dog, Alex.

He screamed for help as he was savaged by the dog outside his flat in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in August 2016.

Neighbours heard desperate pleas, and one even fetched a knife to stab the animal, but the five-year-old female dog only released Mr Ellam after a police officer sprayed a fire extinguisher at its face.

Alex then attacked Mr Ellam’s terrier Rollo, the jury was told, picking him up in his mouth and shaking him from side-to-side.

The court heard how Alex had only been handed back to Joseph by police a week before the attack.

Officers had seized the dog, which had a history of attacking people, after Mr Ellam had complained it may it be a banned pit bull.

But Alex was returned to Joseph – who kept her chained in a pen outside – because it was determined she was not a dangerous breed, as defined by the law.

Prosecutors told the weeklong trial that a court granted a dog control order against Joseph, who lived in a flat above Mr Ellam, in 2012, but Joseph ignored the conditions.

Giving evidence in court, Mr Ellam’s partner Claire Josling described how he was a “dog lover”.

Yesterday Judge Sally Cahill QC said she will sentence Joseph today and told him: “You are facing a very long custodial term.”

Joseph, who showed no reaction after the jury returned its verdict 39 minutes after retiring, was remanded in custody.