Jack Russell bit postwoman - after owner's other dogs attack

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Jack Russell bit postwoman - after owner's other dogs attacked sheep, Stroud magistrates told

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A new postwoman was bitten by a Jack Russell terrier at a home which dogs had already escaped from and attacked sheep, a court heard.

Stroud Magistrates’ Court was told Louise Stokes-Johnson relied on an electric ‘freedom fence’ around her garden to keep brown Labrador Butch and Leo the spaniel on her property.

But the batteries which power it failed over a weekend and they escaped in to fields twice and cornered and attacked sheep. Then her Jack Russell, Spike, bit a new postwoman, when she dropped letters off at her Farfield, Cam home, the bench was told.

Stokes-Johnson, 48, who admitted four livestock worrying offences and another of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control, was told on Monday, December 22 to pay almost £900 in compensation for injuries sustained by the sheep and the postwoman.

Graham Dono, prosecuting, said that on July 25, Butch and Leo escaped and injured a sheep at Ashmead House, Cam, then did the same again on July 27 at Newbrook Farm, Uley.

Both sheep survived but needed veterinary treatment, he said – farmer Steven Brown paid £329.89 and another, Frederick Hill paid £99.78 to their vets.

“The same officer who attended two days before identified the dogs and Mrs Stokes-Johnson said they were her dogs.”

He said the second incident was stopped by a witness who saw the dogs cornering a sheep in a field.

Mr Dono said a postwoman was delivering letters to Mrs Stokes-Johnson’s house when Spike bit her.

“The postwoman said the terrier bit her on both her legs and it held on until she kicked it off,” said Mr Dono.

“She was screaming and retreated to her van with painful wounds.”

Graham Arnall, defending, said Spike had been used to the same postman for many years and because the new postwoman had to walk on to the property to deliver the letter, Spike may have felt threatened and attacked.

He said the batteries which powered the ‘freedom fence’ had gone flat, which allowed Butch and Leo to escape.

“Normally, they would get a slight shock from their collar if they got near the fence, and a bigger shock if they got close to it,” he said.

“Very unfortunately over the space of a weekend , the dogs got out twice because there were issues with the electric fence’s batteries, which were not working properly.

“A few weeks later Spike bit the postwoman. She came on to the property because the post box is five yards inside the driveway. It will be moved on to a gatepost because the Post Office won’t come out. She said she has had the same postman for five years and this was a new post lady and perhaps the dogs was spooked and thought she was a stranger.

“These are the only instances with the dogs she has had. She has no previous convictions.

“She has got a working freedom fence now.”

For the four offences concerning Butch and Leo, she was ordered to pay Mr Stevens’ and Mr Hill’s veterinary bills, and for the single offence involving Spike, she was ordered to pay £400 compensation to the postwoman. A contingent destruction order was placed on Spike, and all dogs must be muzzled when they are out. She was ordered to pay £40 towards prosecution costs, bringing the total payable to £879.59.

[DB1100]

What a stupid woman,she obviously doesn't care about her dogs otherwise she would have a proper fence put up.