Date in court after bull terrier attacked sheep

Published on
10/01/2008





A
SAVAGE mauling by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier forced a sheep to be put
down and led to a court appearance for a Barrow teenager.

Daniel Lloyd Gold, 18, was taking care of a friend’s dog when it chased sheep in fields on Bank Lane, Barrow.

Furness Magistrates’ Court heard the dog chased one sheep in particular before lunging at the animal’s head.

Prosecuting, Mr Philip Bates, said: “The dog began to sway the sheep from side to side while keeping hold of its head.

“A short time later, a local dog warden came to the scene and tried to get the dog off the sheep.

“This was unsuccessful and eventually, the dog had to be struck in order to get it off the sheep.

“The dog’s face was covered in blood and the sheep was in a dreadful state.

“The sheep’s jaw and tongue had been savaged.

“A local vet had to do something to humanely end the sheep’s life.”

Magistrates heard Gold, of Sowerby Avenue, had been asked to look after the dog by its owner on January 16 last year.

But when Gold went into the garden to fetch the animal, he could not find it.

Mr Bates said: “He carried out a search, but could not locate the dog.

“He didn’t contact the police, dog warden or dog’s owner to report it missing.

“Mr Gold did not have a lead to control the dog as he was not given one.”

Gold pleaded guilty to being in charge of the dog when it attacked the sheep.

The court heard on Monday the vet’s bill totaled £267.65 to treat the ewe, which was worth £90.

The owner of the dog has been prosecuted and is set to stand trial next month.

Gold also pleaded guilty to being a passenger in a VW Golf he knew was stolen from Blake Street, Barrow, last month.

Prosecuting Mr Bates said the vehicle was stopped by police on the M6 on December 8.

Gold admitted to police he knew the car did not belong to the driver and it had been taken without consent.

Defending, Mr Trystan Roberts, said: “He was drunk at the time of the offence involving the car.”

Presiding magistrate, Mrs Sue Brunton, ordered Gold to serve 15 days in
a young offenders’ institute for the offence of theft after he breached
his licence.

He was also given an 18-month community order with supervision and ordered to pay £118.83 compensation.