Man sets fighting dog on police officer trying to arrest him – and animal will be destroyed

A Workington man has been jailed for attempting to set a fighting dog on a police officer trying to arrest him.

Owen Carr, 34, appeared in court and admitted possessing or having custody of a fighting dog, which is an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

It followed an incident when police officers attempted to arrest Carr and he tried to set his dog on the officer making the arrest.

Carr, previously of Rowe Terrace in Workington, was appearing the day after he was sentenced to prison for two-and-a-half years following a violent assault against a woman.

The court banned Carr from owning a dog for 10 years.

In reaching this decision, the court took into account Carr’s attempt to use the dog as a weapon, instructing it to attack the police officer, as well as Carr’s prior offending history.

An order was also made for the destruction of the dog on the grounds it could constitute a danger to public safety.

Carr was sentenced to 27 days in prison for the offence and ordered to pay £500.

A spokesman for Cumbria police said: “Cumbria Police will not hesitate to take action against people who abuse dogs or seek to use them as a weapon against other people.

“The officer arresting Carr was able to remain calm in the face of the defendant’s attempts to make his dog attack, keeping Carr under control and the dog away until help arrived.”