Conwy: man jailed after pet dog bit 3-year-old girl

A court has sentenced a man to one year in prison after his large dog bit a 3-year-old girl on the forehead, nearly causing her to lose an eye.

Anthony Desmond, 43, was given a warning by police five days ago for letting his pet run loose.

He admitted being the owner of the Cane Corso that became dangerously out of control outside the Magpie and Stump pub in Towyn, Denbighshire, on May 26 last year.

The court heard the girl may have lost an eye.

Simon Killeen KC, defending Mr Desmond, said his client had come to the pub with his dog, named Frank, on a leash and had repeatedly warned the child to stay away from the dog.

“This person is not an irresponsible dog owner,” Killeen said.

Thomas McLaughlin KC, prosecuting, said the girl had to be taken to hospital after being assaulted screaming and crying on a day of family fun.

Desmond, of Kimmel Bay, Conwy, was arrested two days later.

“He told police, 'I'm not taking my dog,' and tried to close the front door,” McLoughlin said.

The dog was seized and kept in a kennel at a cost of £3,795.

The judge, Recorder Wyn Lloyd-Jones, told Desmond that the girl had two scars on her forehead, one of which “barely missed” her left eye.

“She could have lost an eye,” he said.

The court heard the dog was seen running loose on April 1 and police alerted Ms Desmond on May 21.

Recorder Lloyd Jones told Desmond: “Dangerously out-of-control dogs are a serious problem in our society. Dogs kill, injure and sometimes cause serious harm to people. .

“Dog owners and breeders like you have a huge responsibility to the public when your dog is taken out into public places. The risks cannot be overstated. .

“This crime is so serious that an immediate prison sentence is appropriate. A suspended sentence would not be sufficient punishment for what happened that day.”

Mr Killeen said Mr Desmond intended to appeal the decision, and a decision on what to do with the animals was deferred.