Mum whose dog mauled cop claimed: He doesn’t like people in uniform
OFFICER BITTEN AS HE TRIED TO RETURN STOLEN CAR
A MUM whose dog mauled a policeman as he tried to return her stolen car told him – ‘he doesn’t like people in uniform.’
Heather Westwell, 37, had received a call from the police to arrange the handing over of the vehicle.
However, when the officer arrived, he walked through the gate into the front garden shouting ‘Hello, it’s the police,’ before he saw the Shar Pei ‘running’ towards him.
The dog then ‘jumped’ at the officer and bit him on the right arm, Manchester magistrates court was told.
After initially struggling, the officer, Pc Gavin Jackson, managed to get free and fled to safety before he told Westwell, from Wythenshawe, what happened when she came outside to greet him.
She explained to the officer: “The dog doesn’t often come out – he likes kids, just not adults.”
Westwell added that ‘he didn’t like anyone in uniform, not even the postman.’
The court heard that the dog has since been destroyed.
The mum-of-one pleaded guilty to one offence of being an owner in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, and was handed a £120 fine.
Steve Woodman, prosecuting, said after the incident at around 2.30pm on October 12 last year, the officer was left with a swollen, bruised and bloodied arm, including two puncture wounds and a visible bite mark.
He received treatment at hospital including antibiotics and spent a week off work until the wound healed.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Pc Jackson said: “I went to the address to get a car key for her vehicle which had been stolen. She was aware someone was getting the car and didn’t secure the dog. Due to this, I ended up getting bitten by the dog. It’s not something I expect to happen when I carry out my job.” Richard Birtwisle, defending, said: “This is a regrettable incident. The offence is one of which is admitted by this defendant at the earliest opportunity. The defendant has referred to the dog barking at the postman before, that’s it.”
He added: “She was advised to put the dog down and she followed that for the sake of her eight-year-old son.” Manchester JPs handed Westwell, of Cornishway, Wythenshawe, a £120 fine, £117 court costs and she was ordered to pay £200 compensation to the officer.
They also stated it wasn’t necessary to make a disqualification of dog ownership order in the future.
The dog doesn’t often come out – he likes kids, just not adults Heather Westwell