'It's alright – he only goes for coppers': Officers attacked by serial crook's dog

The animal rushed out of the home of Michael Wright when police arrived – and bit two of the officers, chewing the hand of one and the shoe of the other

Wright did not improve their mood when he told them as he was arrested: 'It's alright – he only goes for coppers,' Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 36-year-old was wanted for questioning after being recognised from CCTV footage as the man who escaped on a bike after stealing ten £1 bars of chocolate from B&M Bargains in West Bromwich on May 10, explained Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting.

Officers landed in trouble when they went to his home in Richmond Street, Bearwood to question him about the theft on June 8, it was said.

Mr Edwards continued: "When police arrived to arrest him, he opened the front door and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier rushed out of the property.

"It bit one officer on the hand and the other on the shoe. As the defendant was being taken away to the police car he said: 'The dog only goes for coppers.'"

Neither officer was seriously hurt.

Mr Ben Nicholls, defending, said the offending of Wright who had 45 previous convictions involving 86 separate offences, was driving by a drug addiction that was now being addressed after he voluntarily went for assistance.

Wright admitted theft and having a dangerously out of control dog and was given an eight-month jail sentence suspended for a year from Judge James Burbidge QC who told him:

"When police you let your dog out knowing that this might result in a bit of robust treatment for the officers. I hope that you were being sarcastic when you said that the dog only goes for the coppers.

"This was a serious offence because it involved police officers but you are making efforts to change your lifestyle and come off drugs. If you achieve this aim it would be of great value to the police and public in general."