An XL Bully has been ordered to be destroyed after attacking a man at a bus shelter and another person at a pub in two separate incidents. The dog, called Rex, was said to be owner Cameron Rushton's "life" but a court heard how both victims were left bleeding as he failed to control his pet.
Two attacks within a month
Rushton, 32, of Chester Road, Oakenholt, Flintshire, appeared in Mold Magistrates' Court where he admitted possessing a fighting dog and owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury to Thomas O'Neill at a bus stop in Oakenholt, North Wales. He also admitted owning a dog dangerously out of control which caused injury to Daniel Tinker at The Dee Inn in Flint a month later.
Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, told how Thomas O'Neill had been standing at a bus stop outside the Spar Garage in Oakenholt on March 16, when Mr O'Neill walked past with his dog. The men nodded to each other before Rex sniffed Mr O'Neill's leg but just moments later it "lunged" towards Mr O'Neill's left leg and bit it.
Victims left with serious wounds
It held on and Mr O'Neill fell to the floor with the victim feeling its grip tighten, said Ms Jackson. "It was growling and Mr O'Neill was in shock because there had been no warning signs", she added. Rushton pulled the dog away and went along the road. He was heard to say, seemingly to the dog "what the hell was that about?", said Ms Jackson.
The court heard Rushton said he would "take it home and come back" but Mr O'Neill did not see Rushton again. He was left with a "nasty, open wound". He was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital. Staff cleaned the wound and gave him sterile strips and antibiotics. In a statement Mr O'Neill said he feels traumatised around big dogs which is "sad because he loves animals".
A second attack happened on Daniel Tinker at The Dee a month later. Witness Molly Reid had been upstairs at the pub when she heard a loud bark. She came down and saw Rex bite Mr Tinker in the groin. He showed her a leg wound to the groin. "Blood was squirting out of the groin", said prosecutor Ms Jackson.
Owner's background and sentence
Ms Reid phoned police and Mr Tinker was given first aid. His wound was five inches long by one inch wide, and one centimetre from an intimate area, said Ms Jackson. Rushton told police he had bought his dog Rex from a website five years ago and had travelled to Cambridgeshire to collect it. It was a "pedigree" and microchipped, he said. "The dog was his life and had helped his mental health", he told officers.
Simon Simmons, defending, said Rushton used to be on crack cocaine, heroin and methadone. He added: "He is a young man with mental health and neuro issues." District judge Gwyn Jones sentenced Rushton to 26 weeks imprisonment for each offence of owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, to run consecutively. But he suspended the terms for two years. There was a 20-week prison sentence to run concurrently for possession of a fighting dog.
The judge also said Rushton was "not a fit and proper person to own, care for or control any dog" and could not do so for 10 years. He cannot apply for that order to be lifted for six years. The judge also ordered the destruction of Rex, who had been in kennels for 164 days, costing £3,608 so far. Rushton must pay a nominal £300 to each victim and £250 court costs, which will be deducted from his Universal Credit.
