Dog owner gets pet ban and £1,000 order after Cannock neighbour bitten
A dog owner whose Staffordshire Bull Terrier bit a neighbour in the face has been banned from keeping dogs for three years and ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.
Philip Armishaw, aged 58, had asked his neighbour Craig Ward to help him catch the dog after it had escaped from his Cannock home and was running around in the street.
The pet, called Sonny, had come to a standstill by Mr Ward who had just put his daughter, celebrating her second birthday, into the family car for an outing.
Miss Rhiannon Jones, prosecuting, said Armishaw asked his neighbour to assist, shouting across to him: "He's okay, he doesn't bite. Can you pick him up and bring him over?"
Trying to help, Mr Ward picked up the dog who then turned towards him, growled and sunk his teeth into his face, the court heard.
Miss Jones said Mr Ward dropped the animal immediately and ran inside. He was taken to hospital where he had 18 stitches to his chin and upper lip. He also had a tetanus injection.
Doctors have told him he will be scarred for life.
Mr Ward has since been given psychological therapy and said in a victim statement that he gets depression.
Magistrates sitting at Cannock heard that under the care of the defendant and his partner the dog had escaped three times before in the two years they had had the pet. The dog allegedly bolted while it was being exercised by Armishaw's son and has not been seen since.
Rob Perry, defending, said the wording of Armishaw's request to his neighbour was disputed, with Armishaw claiming that he asked Mr Ward only to hold the dog where it was until he came over.
"It is extremely unfortunate that the dog bit Mr Ward. Both Mr Armishaw and his partner are devastated by what has happened. It is very sad case."
Armishaw, of Ascot Drive, Cannock, admitted being in charge in March of a dog that was dangerously out of control in a public place. He was also ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work as part of a community order.
