A London magistrate has been convicted of a dangerous dog attack which left another dog dead and its owner injured, it has emerged.
Patrick Weekes was hauled before a court and found guilty of being in charge of a “dangerously out of control” dog which caused injury, for which he received a four-month conditional discharge.
News of the conviction emerged as Mr Weekes, who sits as a magistrate in London, was given a reprimand over the incident following a Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) probe.
He stood down from his duties as a magistrate while facing the criminal case.
Mr Weekes was charged in February 2022 with two counts of being the person in charge of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place, the JCIO said.
At trial last March, Mr Weekes was found guilty of one charge and acquitted of the other.
In a statement on its website, the JCIO said senior judge Mr Justice Keehan has now issued a reprimand to Mr Weekes, saying: “Judicial office-holders are required to display respect for, and observance of, the law.
"Upon appointment, magistrates also sign a Declaration and Undertaking, which includes a commitment to be circumspect in their conduct and maintain the dignity, standing and good reputation of the magistracy at all times in their private, working and public life.
“On 28 February 2022, Mr Weekes was charged with two counts of being the person in charge of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place, contrary to section 3(1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
"This followed an incident whereby two dogs he was in charge of caused injury to another dog and its owner, which ultimately resulted in the death of the other dog.
“On 27 March 2023, Mr Weekes was found guilty on one count and received a four-month conditional discharge. He was acquitted on the other count.
“Following an investigation carried out under the Judicial Conduct Rules (Magistrates) 2014, a conduct panel found that Mr Weekes’ conviction amounted to misconduct.
“In reaching their decision, the panel took into account that Mr Weekes did not fully appreciate the implications of his conviction on his role as a magistrate.
"In mitigation the panel took into account the offence did not involve any dishonesty or intent, that Mr Weekes had reported the matter promptly to his bench chair and had voluntarily refrained from sitting pending the outcome of the case.
“Having considered the mitigation offered, Mr Justice Keehan and Lord Chancellor agreed with the panel’s recommendation."
The JCIO did not reveal when and where the dog attack took place, details of the other dog owner and their injuries, the breeds of dog involved, the circumstances of the attack, or at which court Mr Weekes was convicted.
