Postman 'thought he might die' as he was dragged to the ground during horror dog attack

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... d-27718955

The dog's owner appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, where he accepted owning a dog dangerously out of control

A court heard how a postman "genuinely thought he might die" during a vicious dog attack which saw him dragged to the ground.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Joseph Blaney, 37, begged postman Steven McKay not to call the police after he was chased and bitten by his Belgian shepherd on Ash Vale, Wavertree, on September 10 2022. He offered the postman a joint "to calm down" and told him he would kill the dog, called Mally, himself so he didn't have to report the incident.

He appeared in court yesterday, September 15, where he pleaded guilty to owning a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury.

The court heard Mr McKay had been assigned at unfamiliar route in Wavertree, but was aware of warnings about an aggressive Jack Russell, owned by Blaney's father, on Ash Vale. When he approached the property at around 1pm, he could see Mally standing in the front garden with his paws up on the fence.

Prosecutor David Polglase said: "Mr McKay stopped in the road and gave a male on the pavement the post that he was to deliver so that he didn't have to approach the property. Mally was 'going ballistic', barking, going mad and marching up and down the area."

Blaney's father's Jack Russell then came out of the garden and attacked Mr McKay, who kicked the animal away and tried to use his mail bag as a barrier. As he did so, Mally jumped the 3ft fence and ran towards him.

Mr McKay ran away and jumped onto a car bonnet as Mally chased him and "clamped down" on his left buttock.

Mr Polglase said: "He felt a pain that he had never felt before he tried to grab Mally's mouth as the dog tried to drag him off the car. He describes the dog as 'ragging' him as he dragged him to the ground."

The court heard, the dog continued to try to bite Mr McKay's back, neck and face before being wrestled to the ground by his owner, Joseph Blaney. He tried to convince Mr McKay to keep quiet about the incident and offered him money, but the postman declined and reported what had happened to his work and the police.

The attack resulted in Royal Mail suspending postal deliveries to Ash Vale, leaving residents without mail for almost six months. The suspension is believed to have impacted more than 25 properties on the road, with more people affected, including Alder Hey hospital patients and a 70-year-old waiting for cancer test results.

Charles Lander, defending, said the attack was "an isolated incident" and there had been no previous incidents involving the dog. He said Blaney had shown "clear remorse" for what happened.

Judge Kate Cornell said: (Mr McKay) has been traumatised by this incident. He's now worried and anxious around other dogs, including his own. He's had sleepless nights and nightmares. This must have been an awful experience for him, during which he genuinely believed he might die."

However, she accepted the attack was an "isolated incident", and so did not order an immediate destruction order. She instead made a contingent destruction order, setting out strict rules for Mally's care in the future, warning Blaney: "The dog will be destroyed if you do not keep it under control."

She said: "The expert says you're capable of being a responsible dog owner. You have taken steps to ensure he's not unsupervised in the future and have taken on advice about keeping Mally safe and secure.


"The expert concludes the dog is not dangerous per se, but was roused to this behaviour due to the Jack Russell which it perceived to be under attack by Mr McKay."

She sentenced Blaney, of Woodhead Road in Birkenhead, to a 12 month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, and a three month curfew. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr McKay.

[NWpostie]

£500 compensation !

That's not enough for what he had to put up with, the dog should be put down without question.