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Staffordshire bull terrier to be put down after attacking Walsall Morris dancers

A Staffordshire bull terrier which attacked and injured two Morris dancers during an event in Walsall town centre will be put down - while its owner has been spared jail.

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Matthew Spooner, who was given a suspended sentence, was also banned from owning a dog for at least seven years.

Amanda Wearing and Geraldine Cale, who are members of the Glorishears of Brummagem, were dancing at the annual Walking the Fair procession on April 24, when the dog slipped its lead and went after them outside St. Paul's Street.

Mrs Cale suffered a bruise and two puncture wounds while Mrs Wearing had to have three stitches in her ankle after sustaining a cut.

Spooner had pleaded guilty to two counts of owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

The bull terrier and dancers at the Walking the Fair procession in Walsall

During a hearing at Walsall Magistrates Court, District Judge Michael Morris ordered that the dog Tia should be destroyed in the interest of public safety.

Spooner, who also admitting to shoplifting from two shops while he was on bail for dangerous dog charges, was given an 18-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months on Friday.

Judge Morris said: "Not just one person but two people were bit by this dog you clearly knew nothing about and didn't know how to control. You had not had it very long.

"It is a very serious matter which had a serious result.

"The injuries were awful for these hapless Morris Dancers."

The case had been held up for several weeks after Spooner claimed he had given away the dog and police had actually seized its sister, which officers disproved.

Adam Muhammed, defending, said Spooner required treatment for medical issues and a previous drug problem as well as arguing that imprisonment would affect his four children.

The solicitor added that his client had been 'getting his life together' and was someone 'worth taking a risk on'.

Judge Morris agreed that Spooner would be better off receiving help from the probation service rather than being in prison and ordered him to attend a 40-day rehabilitation programme.

He said: "Having seen what this dog has done and what you are responsible for there is no doubt this crosses the custody threshold.

"But the sentence shall be suspended because there is certain work that can be done with you in society that can't be done with an immediate prison sentence."

Father-of-four Spooner, aged 35 from Burrowes Street, was also ordered to pay compensation of £500 in compensation to the victims, an £80 victim surcharge, £85 prosecution costs, £150 criminal court charges and £140 to replace items he shoplifted on July 6. That day he stole £120 worth of clothes from TK Maxx and two action figures worth £20 from Smyths Toys, both based at Crown Wharf.

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