Postman mauled by dog - Bressingham - supposed to be muzzled

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Postman mauled by dog in Bressingham which was supposed to be muzzled

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A postman needed 17 stitches after he was mauled by a dog which was supposed to be muzzled and in a cage.

The postman was attacked by the Staffordshire bull terrier while delivering letters in Bressingham near Diss.

He had put mail through the door of a home on Common Road when he saw the dog in a neighbour’s window.

The dog sprinted out of the house and chased him into his van, clamping its jaws around his right arm as he fled.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday the postman was shocked and frightened following the attack.

He had to slam the van door against the animal to get it to release its grip.

With his arm soaked in blood, a neighbour came to his aid and called an ambulance.

The postman was taken to hospital were he needed 17 stitches in his arm and elbow.

But the wound became infected and the arm’s nerve and tendons were damaged.


The court heard he was still off work.

A previous civil court order made against the dog meant it was supposed to be in a cage, muzzled or on a lead, but it managed to get out of the house as its owners were in their garden.

Donna Hilton, the dog’s owner, yesterday admitted a charge of allowing her dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place causing injury on July 21.

The 29-year-old of Common Road had her pet put down three days after the attack.

Damien Moore, mitigating for Hilton, described the attack as “truly horrific”.

He said: “She (Ms Hilton) deeply regrets this tragic incident and at the time she was shocked and upset to see what happened to the postman.

“She fully cooperated with the police in their investigation. She has been upfront from the beginning. She has taken all the steps necessary to ensure that this will not happen again.”

The case was adjourned to October 10 to Norwich Magistrates’ Court for sentencing.

•Have you been the victim of a dog attack? Contact reporter Tom Bristow on 01603772313 or email tom.bristow@archant.co.uk.

[Wessex]

Absolutely disgusting. I wish the postie a full recovery .One wonders whether they had a gate, but more importantly why didnt Royal Mail know about this dangerous animal ?
Perhaps in future, courts should be mindful of visitors to the animal's address, and force the owners install a secure gate /fence ,external letterbox and bell.They certainly should notify utilities, rm etc., perhaps by means of a dangerous animal notice in the local press.

[NWpostie]

Let hope she has insurance for civil claims for damages or her house will be taken off her to pay for it.

[Wessex]

I seem to remember that the owner's liability is limited due to her having had the dog put down herself ? I may of course be wrong about that.

[NWpostie]

I seem to remember that the owner's liability is limited due to her having had the dog put down herself ? I may of course be wrong about that.

How convenient if true, so that means previous incidents of dogs being put down was not an act of contrition but a cynical attempt to reduce their liability, this gives even greater strengths to put the owners down ! some people shouldn't own dogs full stop if they were going to discard them like a time expired toy