[A] man has appeared in court after his Rottweiler dog bit a young child while in Hammonds Pond Park in Upperby, Carlisle.
Stephen Kevin Banton, 32, gave his address as Cant Crescent, Upperby, he pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control on Saturday March 14.
Magistrates heard how the dog named “Maximus” was just an 8-month old puppy at the time. There were a number of children playing around the “zip-wire” attraction in the park and Mr Banton had some children with him, the dog was on a lead and he handed it to a young relative to look after, the dog got very excited and pulled away from its handler and went towards a young child, biting him on the back.
The child was taken for treatment at the Cumberland Infirmary, where he was treated for a small puncture wound to his back, which left a scar.
A victims impact statement on behalf of the young boy was read out in court, saying he now has small scar and is scared for life, he is scared when he sees a large dog and hasn’t been back to the park since the incident.
Sean Harkins defending informed the court the dog is now one year-old has has never been in trouble since the incident, it must have been a traumatic incident for the victim and an unpleasant experience, but the young dog was very playful at the time. Mr Banton has a family himself so can understand the upset this had caused.
Magistrates imposed a Contingent Destruction Order on the dog, which means he has to keep the dog under proper control, anyone else in control must be 18 or over, the dog must be muzzled and kept on a lead at all times in public, he also has to pay compensation to the child of £200 with court costs totalling £170, a Community Order was also imposed of 100-hours unpaid work.
