THE owner of a dangerous dog called Bolt appears to have himself bolted following his second non-appearance at Bradford Crown Court.
A warrant not backed for bail was issued last month to track down Shafiq Azam, 43, of Leeds Road, Bradford, who failed to attend at the court for a stand-down probation report.
He had been committed to the higher court by the city’s magistrates after pleading guilty to being in charge of an Akita called Bolt that was dangerously out of control in Leeds Road on February 26, 2019, and injured a person.
Prosecutor Paul Canfield said on the last occasion that Azam had failed to turn up at the court. He had previously not attended at the magistrates’ court and a warrant had been issued.
Judge Colin Burn issued a new warrant in December and enquired what had happened to Bolt in the almost four years since the incident. A police officer present in court told him the dog had been destroyed.
Judge Burn said that ‘with the demise of Bolt,’ and given the age of the case, it might be possible to sentence Azam without a probation report.
Today, Judge Graham Reeds KC issued another Bench warrant not backed for bail after Azam again failed to turn up when his case was listed as a committal for sentence this morning.
Want to keep up with all the latest court and crime news? Join our Bradford Crime & Breaking News Facebook group
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.
Have you got a story for us? Email [email protected] or contact us here, or call us on 01274 705292.
