Sharni Stephens was walking the large dogs, which were an American XL bully breed, without leads or muzzles at around 5am on Cotswold Drive in Redcar.
The animals had been made subject to a Teesside Magistrates' Court order which meant they could not be taken out of the house without a leash or a muzzle.
And of course, the inevitable happened.
He said: "(The victim) was shouting at the defendant to get the dogs off.
"She told her she was sorry, it was not hers. The defendant didn't have any leashes on her.
"They killed both of (the victim's) dogs.
"(The victim) attempted to call the police but was in so much pain she couldn't hold her mobile phone properly."
The victim was a nurse.
The court in Middlesbrough heard how the three pitbull dogs were destroyed on May 5.
Mr Rooney said the victim was unable to work due to the injuries which she had suffered to her arms and hands.
At least the police decided to do their job and the CPS were nudged into acting for once:
The court heard how Stephens accepted that she was aware of the court order and had taken the risk to walk the dogs without leads or muzzles in a public place.
Bet it wasn't the first time. These court orders are useless because no-one does any spot checks.
Stephens, of Micklow Close, Redcar, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control causing injury in the town.
She didn't really have much choice, did she?
Stephen Littlewood, defending, told the court that Stephens had been going through a difficult breakup at the time and the dogs belonged to her ex-boyfriend. He said that he had left the dogs at her property and she wanted to cut all ties with him. He said that she was there throughout the 10 minute attack trying to intervene and stop the dogs.
"She is incredibly remorseful for what has happened.
"She expresses that to the police, to the author of the pre sentence report, in her letter and she expresses that to the court now.
"If there's a case when somebody demonstrates true remorse and empathy this is this case."
Not really, chum, I note she doesn't express any of that to the victim who lost her pets and was severely injured.
The judge told Stephens that is was a "wholly avoidable situation".
He said: "You created a truly horrifying sequence of events by your decision to let them dogs out of the property.
"It was a risk you were prepared on that day to run, although you very much regret that decision now."
Judge Ashurst told her that the victim suffered physical and psychological consequences.
He said: "She had to put her nursing career on hold for a number of months at a time when she was very much needed by the health service."
Stephens sobbed in the dock as Judge Ashurst sentenced her to 12 months in prison.
It's nowhere near long enough. But it'll do, if it encourages other judges.
No comments:
Post a Comment