Two York dog owners have been sent to prison for allowing their American bulldog to attack and badly wound other pets in the city.
Storm Elliott, 18, of Wains Road and Darren Linsdell, 30, of Eastern Terrace were prosecuted for allowing their dog called Milo to be dangerously out of control.
Milo caused significant injuries to three other dogs: a rescue crossbreed in the city centre on October 13, 2015; a Jack Russell in Woodthorpe on May 15, 2016; and a Springer spaniel in Dringhouses on June 5, 2016.
The attacks were investigated by Community Safety Hub officers from City of York Council.
Their evidence was submitted to York Magistrates’ Court when Elliott and Linsdell appeared there in August.
Elliot pleaded guilty to three offences and Linsdell pleaded guilty to one offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and related matters.
Disqualified from ownership
On Wednesday (September 21) the pair were sentenced. Elliot was given 26 weeks’ detention in a young offenders institute. Linsdell was jailed for 16 weeks.
Each was ordered to pay £311.74 towards the veterinary fees accrued for treating the dogs injured in the attacks.
Both Elliott and Linsdell have been disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.
The sentence reflects the severity of the attacks, their effect on the witnesses and because the offences had been committed after both defendants had been warned to keep their dog under control, had failed to attend hearings and had breached bail conditions.
Dog to be destroyed
Milo the American bulldog was kept in the council’s care since officers executed a warrant to seize the dog on June 16. The court ordered it to be destroyed because of the danger it poses.
Leader of York council Cllr David Carr said:
These owners failed on both accounts and we take such failings very seriously as this prosecution and sentence shows.