A 37-year-old man from Blaenau Gwent, Justin Allison, has admitted multiple offences after his XL Bully dog attacked a 12-year-old girl in Nantyglo on October 7. The court heard that Allison appeared 'not bothered' as his dog, Rocco, sank its teeth into the girl's arm, leaving bone exposed.
Prosecutor Lisa Lewis told Newport Magistrates' Court that the girl was walking with her father when she heard shouting and saw the off-lead dog approaching quickly. The dog jumped on her back and latched onto her arm. Her father wrestled the dog off, while Allison 'walked over but didn't come close and wouldn't do anything'. The girl described him as 'not being bothered to help her dad'.
The victim required surgery to repair tendons in her arm and suffered cuts to her back. The court heard that while her physical injuries were healing, the psychological impact was not yet clear. Allison did not have an exemption certificate for the XL Bully, a restricted breed in England and Wales. The dog was surrendered and euthanised.
Allison admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, possessing a dangerous dog, and possessing an offensive weapon (a butterfly knife) in a private place. He also pleaded guilty to drug driving, having been caught with 240 micrograms of cocaine metabolite per litre of blood, nearly five times the legal limit. Magistrates banned him from driving for 16 months and imposed fines and costs totalling £253, payable at £20 per month. He will be sentenced for the dog attack in January.
