Magistrates order destruction of Rottweiler who bit girl in Dent Close

James Palmer, of Dent Close, Worcester, who had previously admitted being the owner/person in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog (a Rottweiler), walked into Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, (August 18), knowing he could go to jail.

The Rottweiler, named Rocky, leapt at the victim and latched onto her cheek during the attack outside her home in Dent Close, Worcester, on April 11 last year, leaving her with life-changing injuries.

Magistrates ordered it be put down. 

COURT: James Palmer at Worcester Magistrates Court at an earlier hearing. Picture: James Connell

Sumreen Asfar, prosecuting, provided details to magistrates of the horrific incident. 

The prosecutor said the child had gone over to try and stroke the dog but the Rottweiler suddenly lunged at her jawline.

"There was a call from her mother that a dog was attacking her child," Miss Asfar said.

"She was taken to the A&E. There was flesh hanging from her face.

WOUND: The wound to the girl's face

"She has had surgery, she is going to have a scar on her face for the rest of her life."

The prosecutor said the dog was not muzzled at the time of the attack, despite having been muzzle trained.

Miss Asfar said: "The dog can become aggressive - if he is not muzzled this can be a repeated incident."

She added when the dog was seized by police it was unwell and was suffering from malnutrition.

Will Harrison, defending the 31-year-old, said Palmer's brother owned the dog. But Palmer had been looking after it for a year - and accepted he was in charge when the dog attacked the girl. 

HOSPITAL: The victim in hospital

The solicitor said Palmer had been upset at what happened and suffered mentally from the media attention the case had attracted.

Mr Harrison said: "Not only that but in July this year he was admitted to hospital with a collapsed lung.

"He is signed off work."

Mr Harrison said a report from a dog expert identified two "plausible" explanations; either Rocky had felt threatened and reacted, or that children had ice creams and the dog had tried to bite one and caught the victim's face.

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"There was no sustained attack, it was a lunge," Mr Harrison said.

"Ultimately, the report concludes, if properly managed the dog isn't a danger."

Mr Harrison added Palmer's brother had paid for a dog expert to assess the dog as he did not want it put down and wanted Rocky returned to him.

Chairman of the magistrates bench, Charles Townsend, said: "I can't state clearly enough how serious the injury was.

"She will be permanently scarred."

SCAR: The victim will be scarred for life

Mr Townsend said they had considered the lack of control measures in an incident which could have been "foreseen", and the welfare of the dog when seized.

The chairman announced Palmer would be jailed for six months, but it would be suspended for a year. 

He said magistrates had decided to order the dog be destroyed, explaining they had to assess whether Palmer's brother was a fit and proper person.

"We know nothing about your brother, he hasn't attended court," the chairman said.

SCENE: The grass area in Dent Close where the attack took place

The chairman said they were ordering the girl should receive £1,500 compensation for the distress caused in the "horrendous" attack.

Magistrates also ordered Palmer to pay £2,500 towards the bill of keeping the dog in kennels - adding "I imagine you will need to talk to your brother".

Palmer was told to pay £128 victim surcharge and £185 costs. 

Magistrates accepted an offer from Palmer to pay the total, £4,313, at a rate of £40 a month. 

In an exclusive interview with the family in May the mum of the victim, who is now nine, told the Worcester News it was lucky the dog had let go of her daughter's face.

The mum also said she feared, if not destroyed, the Rottweiler would attack other children.