Pub boss fined for danger dog

A former Bloxwich pub licensee discovered with an illegal pitbull as police seized cannabis has been hit with a bill for more than £3,000.

Christopher Boffin was found with the fighting breed dog after officers visited The Leathern Bottle pub in Cresswell Crescent on an unrelated matter last September.

There they found cannabis being cultivated and the illegal animal in a kennel.

The 31-year-old, of Heather Road, Dudley Fields, Bloxwich, originally pleaded not guilty to an offence of possessing a fighting dog. He was due to face trial at Walsall Magistrates Court today, but altered his plea on the basis he did not know it was a pitbull.

Magistrates ordered the destruction of the dog, fined Boffin £400 and ordered he pay kennel costs of £2,218 and £620 court costs.

Mr Van French, prosecuting, said officers went to the pub in their investigation about a non-stop traffic accident. He added: "During their inquiries they noticed a very bright light coming from the doorway of one of the rooms. It was used for the cultivation of cannabis. While continuing the drugs element they discovered the dog."

Boffin was also given a community order for the cannabis offence at a previous hearing.

The Leathern Bottle is currently shut for matters unrelated to today's court case.