A man was terrified he was going to die during an attack which involved a number of dogs belonging to a championship dog show judge.
Anthony Dawson was walking his daughter's Jack Russell/Chihuahua-cross called Coco on November 28, last year, when he came upon his neighbour Daphney Iley - who was walking five of her Rough Collies at the time. But as Mr Dawson passed, one of Iley's dog's, Hugo, began aggressively barking at Coco. When Mr Dawson lifted his leg in an attempt to keep Hugo away, the other four were said to have surrounded him, before he was viciously attacked.
Mr Dawson, who curled into the foetal position in order to protect Coco from the "snarling" and "snapping" dog, sustained nasty injuries to his arm and hand, and told Newcastle Magistrates' Court he was fearing for his life as Iley stood "nonchalantly" watching. The ordeal finally ended when another neighbour came to help Mr Dawson's and took him to a home for first aid.
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On Monday, Iley, 78, of King George Road, Fawdon, Newcastle, appeared at the court for a trial facing a charge of being a person in charge of a dog acting dangerously out of control and causing injury. She denied the offence, claiming Mr Dawson's dog was the aggressor and that Coco had been the one that caused his injuries. However, magistrates found her guilty of the offence.
Giving evidence, Mr Dawson said he was walking Coco on Fawdon Park Road shortly before 11am when he saw Iley walking five Rough Collies, who were all off the lead. He said: "I saw the dogs coming across the road and I was concerned. I tried to walk around the outside then one of her dogs started barking at Coco. That dog became quite aggressive towards Coco, then all of the other dogs came over at once. I lifted my leg up to keep the dog back but they all came and tried to attack Coco in a relatively vicious manner."
Mr Dawson said that one of Iley's dogs was "snarling and snapping" while attempting to attack Coco - who was "yelping" in fear - he then picked Coco up to keep her safe. He said: "The dogs were all around me and I tried to kick them off. I don't know which dog it was, but it got hold of my foot and I fell and hit my head." Mr Dawson said he was "dazed" on the floor as a dog "took hold" of his hand, as he tried to stave the rest off. He said: "I was totally vulnerable and isolated and fearing for my life. Daphney was doing nothing. The dogs were going up my arm and biting me towards my face. I curled in a foetal position, I thought I was going to die."
The court heard the attack ended when Mr Dawson's neighbour, Peter Slatterly, came to his aid and "pulled him up". As he did, one of Iley's dogs "jumped up" at Mr Dawson and knocked him into a fence and "went for Coco". Following the incident, Mr Dawson was then walked to another neighbour's home for first aid before going on to a walk-in centre. Fortunately, Coco was uninjured during the incident due to being protected by Mr Dawson.
Stewart Hay, asking questions on behalf of Iley, put it to Mr Dawson that Coco was the aggressor and had caused his injuries by biting him. Mr Dawson said: "My little dog could not have caused those injuries to me."
During his evidence, Mr Slatterly, who was mending his fence at the time of the incident, said Iley stood there as the attack unfolded and said he saw Mr Dawson on the floor being attacked. He said: “She was not doing anything, she said ‘they don’t normally do this’, and was standing there nonchalantly.” Asked whether Coco was responsible for Mr Dawson’s injuries, Mr Slatterly said that was “ludicrous”, adding: “I saw with my own eyes one Collie attached to Mr Dawson’s arm and another jumped on his back.”
The trial heard that Iley, who had no previous convictions, had been involved in showing dogs and judging them at championship level since 1987. During that time, she said she’s had “no problems whatsoever” with any of her dogs.
Giving evidence, she said that Mr Dawson’s claim that Hugo was “snarling” was a “fabrication”, and said one of her other dogs, Dee, was on a lead at the time. She told the court Mr Dawson came into view before Hugo went over to approach him.
She said: “Hugo is very friendly and went to him. Mr Dawson’s dog was barking and he then kicked out at Hugo. I was shocked and so ran over. He then picked his dog up and kicked out again."
Iley added she saw no biting from her dogs and that it was a “fabrication” Mr Dawson was knocked into a fence. She said: “I walk them off the lead and they walk beside me. They are show dogs and so they never leave you...I had control of the dogs and they did not surround him.”
The court heard that Iley's dog Hugo was a "stud dog" and was taken to Milan, Italy, following the incident, where he remains. After the magistrates found Iley guilty, her solicitor, Mr Hay, asked the bench to take into consideration that she had no previous convictions and was an old age pensioner on a limited income and that the incident was a “one-off”. He added: “She also fears she will be banned from the Kennel Club.”
Iley was fined £201 and must pay £200 compensation to Mr Dawson. She was ordered to pay £734 court costs and must now only walk a maximum of three dogs at once and all must be on a lead. The court heard she will pay back £20 a month.
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