UNITED KINGDOM -- The owner of a dog that savaged a seven-year-old boy in Winsford has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.
The child was subjected to such a frenzied attack by the animal that he had to have his left small toe amputated.
On Tuesday, November 6, Jamie Mayers, 19, of St Chad’s Fields, Winsford, appeared at South Cheshire Magistrates Court in Crewe, charged with having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.
The court heard how, at 5.56pm on Friday, September 7, Mayers’ bull mastiff type dog savagely attacked the young boy on The Drumber park, off High Street.
The child suffered multiple wounds to his chest and thigh, and was rushed by ambulance to Leighton Hospital.
He later received specialist care at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
Large crowds gathered at the Drumber in the aftermath of the attack, where police restrained the animal while specialist officers destroyed the dog.
Mayers was sentenced to sixteen weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and given 200 hours of unpaid community work.
He was ordered to pay £500 in compensation and disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.
Inspector Dave Snasdell of Winsford Neighbourhood Policing Unit, commented: "This was a vicious and unprovoked attack on a young boy. It was a traumatic experience for him and he sustained serious injuries as a result.
“Fortunately incidents like this are rare and the conviction sends a message to dog owners that if you do not keep your dog under control, you will be prosecuted.”
(Winsford Guardian - Nov 21, 2012)
