Wirral man sentenced after dogs bite people in Saltney

David Sumner, of Trafalgar Road in Egremont, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court to be sentenced on Thursday.

The 42-year-old had previously admitted that on October 1 last year at Saltney, he was the owner of a Caucasian shepherd dog which was dangerously out of control and injured four people.

He admitted a further offence of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog on the same occasion - a separate animal of the same type - but this dog did not injure any persons.

In addition, he admitted an offence of assault committed on that date in Saltney.

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The court heard that around 10.30am on the day in question, police received numerous reports about two dogs - a male and female - running loose around Saltney Industrial Estate in River Lane which had bitten people.

It was established the female had been the one biting people.

The first victim was Thomas Graham, who was on a run at the industrial estate when he was cornered by the dogs and bitten by the female.

River Lane in Saltney (Google) (Image: Google)

The dogs then ran off and came across the second victim, John Main, who had been walking to work.

When the animals ran at him he fell against some railings, then to the floor - sustaining an arm injury.

A woman named Melissa Malone had been dropping her child off at a martial arts session and was bitten to the hip, when the dogs approached, the female lunged at her.

And finally, the fourth victim Marek Midura was at a garage with his own small dog.

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Sumner's dogs approached and attacked Mr Midura's dog and in the process of trying to protect it he sustained a number of bites to his arm.

Shortly thereafter two men then arrived - one of which was the defendant - to collect the animals and as they were trying to drive away, Mr Midura stood in front of their van to get a picture of it - when Sumner threw a clear liquid at him from a bottle.

Sumner was interviewed by police and gave up rights of ownership to the female dog.

He expressed remorse and apologies in the interview and claimed he'd ensured both dogs had been secured in kennels at the Saltney industrial estate before returning to his home address.

Keith Webster, defending, told the court Sumner and his wife "are experienced dog owners," and had acquired both when they were relatively young.

They lived at their home until they "became too large and loud," at which point the defendant constructed them a pair of purpose built cages at a compound in Saltney which he had access to.

Mr Webster said: "Mr Sumner and his wife would visit the compound every day to feed, water and walk the dogs and all seemed to be going swimmingly until the day in question.

"He made full admissions and relinquished both dogs. The male was assessed and handed back almost immediately - the female has never been seen since and is now in kennels."

He added the male dog had since been rehomed with another family, where things had been "wonderful" since.

District Judge Gwyn Jones handed down a 26 week custodial sentence overall, and suspended it for 12 months.

He also found that the defendant is not a fit and proper person to be in charge of any dogs, and banned him for eight years.

Sumner must pay each of the four victims £200 in compensation, as well as a £1,000 contribution towards the costs of kennelling in relation to the female dog.

He must also pay £85 costs.

The District Judge ordered that the female dog be destroyed and imposed a contingent destruction order for the male dog - which will require the dog to be muzzled and kept on a lead in public.