Dog 'attacked worker walking home'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.haverhillecho.co.uk/news/Dog ... 6496459.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


A RIDGEWELL woman has been found guilty of failing to control her dog, which attacked a worker walking home along an unlit road late at night.

Tracy McArthur, 43, of Mill Road, had pleaded not guilty to being in charge of a dog which caused injury while out of control in a public place, but was convicted by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday.

She was made the subject of a 12-month conditional discharge and told to pay £250 compensation to the man who was bitten. She has also been ordered to keep the dog involved in a secure compound.

The man attacked was Paul Metson, who told the court he had been frightened and screaming for help as the Alsatian bit his arm, inflicting a bite that required five stitches.

The attack took place in Hedingham Road, Gosfield, on the evening of September 11, 2008, prosecutor Raj Joshi told the court. Mr Metson had got off a bus in Gosfield and was walking to his home in Sible Hedingham when he was attacked.

After the Alsatian had left go of his arm it ran back into the driveway of a nearby house, said Mr Metson.

The jury was told two warning letters had been sent by environmental protection officers, one in July, 2007, and the second in July, 2008, warning the dog needed to be kept under better control.

The 2008 letter followed an incident in which postman Martin Evans had been making a delivery to the house in Hedingham Road, Gosfield, and managed to get into his van as the Alsatian approached, barking, but it put its head in through the driver's window of his van in an attempt to get to him.

McArthur denied that the dog was dangerously out of control and suggested that Mr Metson may have been into its compound.

Describing herself as an animal lover, she said that she had not let the dog out on the night of the incident and said she had suspected Mr Metson had been on her property.

The Alsatian was not dangerous, she said, and denied that it had been involved in the attack on Mr Metson.

[brothermagrew]

Security and integrity of the mail - why therefore then would the above mentioned postman leave his van window down in the first place thereby allowing the Alsation dog in question to poke it's head through the window in an attempt to get to him.

[Postman Plodd]

It was a warm July day?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

It was a warm July day?

and the birds were singing


Sorry thought I was in the canteen then

[Lincox]

Perhaps he had let one rip