The canine’s proprietor, Graham Habberfield, 62, a beef and dairy farmer, had no thought the attack had occurred till police turned as much as query him.
His three-year-old canine Yogi was already the topic of a canine behaviour management order having bitten one other member of the general public six months earlier.
Habberfield believed Yogi bought out by means of a badger run below a hedge he was not conscious of.
A crown court docket decide has now ordered the canine be destroyed to guard the general public. Habberfield, who pleaded responsible to being the proprietor of a canine dangerously uncontrolled, should additionally pay Mrs Greene £4,500 compensation.
Mrs Greene, from Sherborne, Dorset had cycled to the close by hamlet of Clifton Maybank to take a look at the wild garlic in a wooden there on Sunday, April 16 final yr.
Mrs Greene, who’s the rights of manner officer on Sherborne council, of which she is an elected member, stated when she walked previous Clifton Farm on the way in which to the woodland two dogs out of the blue appeared and barked and snarled at her.
‘Two dogs snarling’
She stated: “When I came back after my Sunday afternoon walk I went past the farm again and one of the two dogs came up behind me snarling away.
“Then suddenly I was viciously bitten from behind on my lower right leg. I screamed my head off.
“I managed to carry on to my bike and tried to cycle home using only my left foot, I was in excruciating pain.
“My boots were covered in blood. As I got near home somebody saw me and got me to hospital with my bleeding leg wrapped in a plastic shopping bag.
“The doctor who treated me said they had never seen such severe wounds from a dog bite.”
After being launched from hospital, Mrs Greene’s daughter moved in along with her to take care of her.
Used to walk 8 miles day by day
The energetic pensioner, who used to walk as much as eight miles a day, stated she remains to be recovering her energy a yr on.
Mrs Greene stated she was relieved that the decide had made a destruction order on the canine.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard that in addition to preserving the canine safe, Habberfield was imagined to have erected indicators warning passersby there have been dogs on the property and had not finished that on the time of the attack.
Verity Quaite, prosecuting, stated: “Yogi was under a control order since February 21 last year. There was a prior unrelated biting incident in October 2022. There were various requirements including being required to keep Yogi under control at all times and not allowed to be on the lane outside of the farm alone.
“He was unaware of any gaps in the hedges and thought he had left them secure but accepted Yogi must have got through a gap. He was very apologetic and said he wished to pay compensation for the injuries.”
‘I’d depart daughter, 9, with Yogi’
Richard Tutt, defending, stated Habberfield had no earlier convictions and had made full admissions from the outset.
Mr Tutt stated: “He believed he had secured his garden – the garden perimeter has a chain link fence for parts, double bank hedge, a wall and a gate. He put up a stock fence in addition.
“It’s obviously a very rural location. After the incident in April he discovered there was a badger run he wasn’t previously aware of. After that he has erected further fencing and to the knowledge of him and his family, Yogi has never been able to escape since.
“This isn’t a case where Mr Habberfield ignored what he had been told to do, he believed he had taken necessary steps.”
Mr Tutt stated because the incident Yogi had undergone coaching at some kennels the place they practice police dogs and there had been no additional points.
His daughter Natalie, who additionally lives on the farm, alongside along with her nine-year-old daughter, stated: “(Yogi’s) very affectionate, he is my daughter’s best friend. People should never trust a dog with their children unattended but I would be able to leave her with Yogi incredibly confidently.
“If I felt Yogi was any sort of danger to the public I would take him to the vets myself and have him put to sleep.”
Very severe accidents
Judge Robert Pawson described the photographs of Mrs Greene’s accidents as “stomach churning”.
He stated: “The photographs are not for the faint-hearted. They show three very serious injuries and bruising.
“She must be an extremely robust and phlegmatic character – having been approached from behind by a dog and bitten, she got back on her bike and cycled home, which is really quite surprising when you see the nature of the injuries.”
Judge Pawson sentenced Habberfield to 10 months, suspended for 2 years. He stated he was not satisfied that Yogi posed no hazard to the general public.
He added: “Destruction is not imposed as punishment, it is for public safety. The six-month gap (between bite incidents) does not allay the court’s fears.
“Mr Habberfield believed he had secured the garden. You cannot, with the best will in the world, ensure that there is no further issue with, for example, badgers.
“I have to consider the temperament of Yogi and his past behaviour and the problem is he has a record of biting.
“I’m not satisfied that Yogi wouldn’t pose an ongoing risk to the public. With a heavy heart I am bound to make a destruction order.” Habberfield has 28 days to attraction the order.
