Dangerous dog will be destroyed following attack on man and son in Northampton

A dog who escaped his house and caused injuries to a man and his son as they fought to stop it attacking their pet in Northampton will be destroyed.

The Staffy-Lurcher cross escaped from its home along with two other dogs of the same breed in an incident in Duston in December 2019.

At the same time, a man and his 13-year-old son were walking their own dog on Newton Road when the three Staffy-Lurchers piled in and attacked the pet.

While trying to get them away, the man and his son suffered scratches and injuries to their hands, including a cut to the boy's thumb.

The wounded pet reportedly required vet care amounting to £1,000 in costs that the owner had to pay for.

Northampton Crown Court heard yesterday how the three dogs' owner Tina Penfold - 46, of Clee Rise - "acted responsibly" in trying to get the dogs away and even called the police.

But the judge ruled he could not spare one of the dogs - named Muppet - that was already under a control order for dangerous behaviour from a previous incident.

"I'm not prepared to order the destruction of the other two dogs," said Recorder Mr Patrick Upward. "But I'm afraid Muppet has demonstrated a propensity for aggression once too often.

"In my view, he represents a serious danger to people if left at large."

The court heard a witness statement from a neighbour that Penfold was otherwise "a responsible pet owner", but that the three dogs had escaped in a mishap.

A destruction order was made in relation to Muppet. The other two dogs were subject to a control order.

Penfold was also given a conditional discharge for one count of being a person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, and was ordered to pat £1,500 in compensation to the victim's family.