A WORCESTER man who had his dog seized then destroyed after a court ruled it was pitbull-type said he feels “robbed” after four dogs bred from his animal were returned to their owners.

Police raided Steven Evans’ home in May last year and took away two-year-old Bert under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Mr Evans, of Liverpool Road, Ronkswood, was convicted of owning a dangerous dog and ordered to pay £2,455 in kennel costs. An order was made to destroy the dog.

As the Worcester News reported last month, twins Shaun and Luke Dayus were found not guilty of owning pitbull-type dogs with Nala, 8Ball, Bronson, and Archie all being returned 10 months after being seized It is believed the kennel costs for the four dogs were about £26,000.

Mr Evans, aged 38, said Bert was the father of Nala and 8Ball who are the parents of Bronson and Archie.

He said Bert had no more pitbull characteristics than any of the Dayuses’ dogs.

Mr Evans said he is now seeking legal advice to challenge his conviction.

He said: “I feel like my dog has been killed for no reason, it is totally unfair.

"I know for a fact my dog wasn’t a pitbull but he was taken away from me. I feel robbed.

"I still think about Bert every day and am still paying the fine off. It has been the worst year of my life.

“Around my estate there are about 80 dogs that are exactly the same.

“Both my case and the Dayuses’ have been a huge waste of taxpayers’ money. Bert was never a danger to anyone.”

Mr Evans said he would have happily kept Bert muzzled and on a tight lead when in public but magistrates made the destruction order to protect the public.

He recalled the moment when specialist dog officers from West Midlands Police stormed into his home in May last year.

He said: “It is horrible to have a large group of officers force their way through your front door and take your dog away. There must have been about 40 of them.

“Since that day my life has been turned upside down.”

Mr Evans thinks there needs to be more consistent methods of testing dogs to see if they are pitbulls.

He said: “If the police are going to take people’s dogs away there needs to be proper DNA testing rather than just relying on the opinion of one expert.”