Bulldog put to sleep after biting child in Shropshire park and attacking police officer

Jordan Cuthbert's American bulldog named Ronnie sank its teeth into Pc John Hindley's leg the day after the nature reserve incident and was subsequently seized by officers.

But when he was sentenced by magistrates the defendant, 26, told the court that the animal was "no problem".

Mr Paul John, prosecuting, said: "It was on July 11 at about 3.23pm that the complainant, who was aged just seven, and his father had been walking around Brown Moss Country Park in Whitchurch when the family saw a man with a black and white dog.

"The dog at first walked towards them, then turned away before approaching the complaint and biting him on the right wrist causing a 1cm cut. As he moved away the dog jumped up on him, knocking the complaint onto his back.

"The defendant pulled the dog way."

Mr John told the hearing, held in Telford on Friday, that the defendant got into a vehicle and left the scene but the child's father phoned the police before following him to an address.

He said the next day two police officers went to the property in Bronington, Whitchurch, and were shown to the back garden where the dog was.

Mr John said: "When they spoke to the defendant he admitted that an incident has happened, but said that he was unaware that the dog had bitten the child.

"Pc Hindley entered the rear garden and at this stage the dog starting wandering round. Pc Wheeler became concerned for their safety and left the property. The dog started to growl. It moved towards Pc Hindley who turned away, but was bitten on the inside of his leg.

"He left the property, but returned afterwards to seize the dog."

He said Pc Hindley suffered three puncture wounds and that, following an assessment, a dog expert recommended that Ronnie be put to sleep.

Cuthbert, who had a previous conviction for battery, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury at an earlier hearing.

Defending himself at Friday's hearing Cuthbert, of Deganwy, Clwyd, said: "I decided to sign him over. He had been impounded for eight months and I'd heard bad things about that place. He used to sleep next to my one-year-old and my niece. There was no problem.

"There wasn't a bite mark on the child. It was only a scratch."

For the offences chairman of the bench Ms Lisa Peters sentenced Cuthbert to a community order with a requirement to carry out £100 unpaid work. He was ordered to £100 compensation to the officer, £50 to the child, £135 costs and victims' surcharge £95.