Pensioner spared immediate jail term after Rottweilers launched vicious attack on man and dog

The dogs, both aged six, escaped through a hedge in Sidney Cox's garden and set upon Gordon Mill and his Labrador Ghillie.

Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard that Ghillie was seriously injured in the attack on February 6. Mr Mill, 62, suffered puncture wounds to his wrists when he desperately tried to protect his beloved 15-year-old pet.

It was the second time Cox's dogs had been involved in an attack, following a carbon copy incident in 2010 when they bit a woman and her pet dog.

Dogs experts from West Midlands Police are set to compile a report on the Rottweilers to determine if they will be destroyed.

Mrs Val Hart, prosecuting, said Mr Mill had been walking his Labrador in Kinver Drive, Wolverhampton, at around 11am when they attacked.

"A witness described the Rottweilers as being very aggressive," she said. "One grabbed hold of Ghillie's back leg and one bit into its neck."

"This was a very unpleasant incident."

A neighbour heard Mr Mill shouting for help and came to his aid by striking the Rottweilers with a baseball bat.

"The defendant said he had the dogs when they were young but didn't exercise them regularly because other people were scared of them," said Mrs Hart.

"A fence in his garden had blown down meaning they were able to escape through a hedge out onto the street."

Mr Mill was said to have been more concerned for his Labrador than his own welfare in the aftermath of the attack, and had feared that Ghillie would not survive.

The dog required 35 stitches to bite wounds in his left rear leg and was also treated for a wound to his neck.

The court was told that following the attack in 2010 Cox signed a form agreeing to a police order that the dogs would be re-housed.

But the 65-year-old kept them and later falsely claimed that police had forged his signature on the order.

Mr Nicholas Towers, defending, said that Cox had accepted that he had been 'stupid' and rather irresponsible' for not ensuring the Rottweilers were properly restrained at his home.

"He has now taken proper precaution," he added. "He has fully erected a 6ft high fence and there is no way the dogs could escape again.

"They are part of his family and this has hit him very hard. He tried to restrain the dogs as best he could. He is very sorry to Mr Mill and to Ghillie."

Cox, of Swancote Drive, Warstones, admitted being in control of dogs that were dangerously out of control.

Chair of the bench Mrs Janet Bird told him: "You failed to do what you were supposed to do after the incident in 2010 and failed to realise the impact your dogs have had on the community.

"You had no control of your dogs during the attack. However we recognise your remorse and respect your early guilty plea."

Cox, who wept during the hearing, was jailed for 16 weeks, suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £781 to cover Mr Mill's vets bill, £250 compensation, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

The fate of his dogs will be decided at the same court on May 14.

Following the attack Mr Mill paid tribute to Claudia Tarbuck, the neighbour who he says probably saved Ghillie's life.

"I was in danger of losing Ghillie if somebody hadn't stepped in," he said.

"It was so brave of Claudia to come to our aid, it must have been terrifying for her. When the police arrived, a lady from their dog unit told me that Ghillie had to be taken to an emergency vets straight away or else I could lose him."

Ms Tarbuck said the ordeal left her in a state of shock for days afterwards.

"I was terrified, adrenaline took over but I was still so scared. I broke down when everything started to calm and didn't stop shaking for four days.

"Obviously you don't think of doing this for the credit but Gordon's sister paid me a visit shortly after and said if it wasn't for me she wouldn't have a brother.

"Gordon came round with Ghillie to thank me too, which was great for me. He is a lovely dog."