A workman has told how he 'hardly recognises himself' after being attacked by an American bulldog while working in a customer's home. Robert Gaskell was carrying out work in Demi Fitzpatrick's kitchen in Kirkby, Liverpool, when the dog, named Capone, burst into the room and bit him on the cheek.
The incident occurred at around 2pm on May 21, and police were called following a report from the North West Ambulance Service. Fitzpatrick was trying on a dress in her bedroom at the time, and the court heard that Capone was 'usually a friendly dog'. However, magistrates have now ordered the dog to be destroyed.
At Liverpool Magistrates' Court, Fitzpatrick admitted one count of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog causing injury. She was seen in tears during the hearing and was fined £120, ordered to pay £300 in compensation, £85 in court costs, and a £48 victim surcharge.
In sentencing, panel chairman Lee McGaw said: 'We need to consider whether the dog does constitute a danger to public safety. We have to consider its temperament and past behaviour and whether you are fit and proper person. Even though there are no recent incidents with Capone, you were aware that you needed to place him in a room out of the way when you had a workman in your home. But you did not ensure that those measures were adequate. You were in another room trying on a dress. Capone escaped and attacked this workman.'
He added that a dog expert had advised that Capone needed to be adequately restricted with a muzzle or cage when visitors were present. The magistrates concluded that Fitzpatrick was not a fit and proper person to care for the dog and made a destruction order, which can be appealed at the crown court.
Meanwhile, the victim said he feels like he's 'living on borrowed time' and is now nervous about entering customers' homes as a result of the attack, which has left him feeling unrecognisable.
