Judge sentences Penton man whose dogs attacked randomly

The escaped Alsatian and Rottweiler dogs owned by 20-year-old Shane Reid ran away after being “spooked” by another dog, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

Victim Keith Reynolds suffered what a judge said was a frightening experience as the two dogs cornered him and then attacked as he tried to walk to work on Kingstown Road in Carlisle just before midnight on January 11. 

Forced to the ground by the dogs, the victim was bitten on his knee and buttock and he also suffered a serious ankle injury which forced him to take months of work. One witness who saw the dogs attack said they seemed to be “out to kill.”

Shane Reid

Reid, formerly of Penton, north of Carlisle, admitted being the owner of two dogs which while dangerously out of control injured a person.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke described how after running away from the defendant the two dogs made their way to Kingstown Road in Carlisle. Near the road’s junction with Lowry Hill Road, the dogs spotted Mr Reynolds and attacked him.

“The dogs brought him to the ground,” said the barrister. The victim suffered puncture wounds as a result of being bitten. 

As the victim lay still on the ground, hoping the dogs would leave him alone, a passing motorist stopped to help him, but the dogs then went for him, though they repeatedly returned to Mr Reynolds.

The Good Samaritan had got out of his car but at one point felt so threatened by the dogs that he dived back into his car through an open window to protect himself. Witnesses said Mr Reynolds did nothing to provoke the dogs.

A police officer who tried to help commented on the dogs' aggression, saying he had to kick the rottweiler in the face to fend it off. The dogs were eventually captured and detained by specialist police dog handlers.

The victim needed hospital treatment which included antibiotics and a tetanus jab. Mr Burke said the victim had lodged a compensation claim for almost £6,000, the figure covering his lost earnings due to time off work.

In court, the defendant said he was walking his dogs in a field near Houghton when another dog – a Staffordshire bull terrier – had appeared, spooking the Rottweiler and the Alsatian, making them run off.

Despite looking for his dogs, he could not find them anywhere, said Reid.

Judge Nicholas Barker said the dogs were out of control. “This was clearly a very unpleasant and frightening experience,” said the judge, commenting on the aggressive behaviour of the dogs.

The judge imposed a 12-month community order, with 140 hours of unpaid work. Judge Barker ordered that Reid pay the victim compensation of £1,200.

The dogs will be the subject of a contingent destruction order, which means they will not be destroyed provided Reid abides by certain conditions. These include them being muzzled and on a lead when in any public place.