Royal Mail manager bitten by "huge, snarling dog" delivering post in Westbury-on-Trym, jury is told

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A ROYAL Mail manager used to giving posties safety advice was bitten by a "huge, snarling dog" when she delivered post herself, a court heard.

Heather Hernandez said she went out on afternoon delivery round in Westbury-on-Trym and refrained from posting advertising leaflets through a cottage door because she heard a dog inside.

But she said she returned when she found she had a letter and, as she tried to insert it through the letter box, the door flew open and she teetered into the hallway.

She said as she retreated she tried to close the door but the large pet appeared and bit her on her left leg.


Tessa O'Hara, 55, of Church Road, Westbury-on-Trym, denies being the owner of a dog which caused injury whilst dangerously out of control in January last year.

Susan Cavender, prosecuting, said mastiff boxer cross Bruce bit Mrs Hernandez after the door opened as she delivered the letter.

Mrs Hernandez told a jury she went out on a delivery run but didn't deliver advertising material through one door because she heard snarling on the other side..

She said: "As a manager I am very, very conscious to be wary of dogs behind letter boxes. Fingers go through letter boxes, etc, and I thought I wouldn't deliver there.

"I'd gone a few steps up when a lady opened that door and said 'Did you knock?'

"I said I was about to knock but when I heard the snarling I decided against it."

Mrs Hernandez told the woman she only had advertising material, and the woman politely said she didn't want it.

She added that the dog wouldn't hurt anyone, the court heard.

Mrs Hernandez told the court when she returned to her van she saw she had an item of mail for the woman and decided to deliver it, having been told the dog was safe.

he said: "I was still very cautious.

"I went to the front door, which was closed.

"You are instructed not to put your fingers through letter boxes, you introduce your peg. I didn't have a peg.

"I opened the top of the letter box and because the pressure of doing that the door just flew open.

"I was through the door, quite a way I think. I sort of fell through the door and the door slammed against the wall."

Mrs Hernandez said she teetered into the hallway and scattered her mail on the floor.

She said it was weird being in someone's house, and she retreated to the pavement and tried to close the door.

She told the jury: "Before I could pull the door closed a huge dog appeared. I couldn't do anything about it. I was on the pavement and it bit my leg."

Mrs Hernandez said she felt no pain but she looked down, saw blood and realised her trousers were ripped.

She said: "The lady came rushing out and called the dog off immediately. The dog obeyed her." Mrs Hernandez said she drove back to her office but was then driven to hospital where her wound was washed and stitched.

The case continues.

[Sir Henry]

What was a huge snarling dog doing delivering post?

[leadseal]

What was a huge snarling dog doing delivering post?

She obviously couldn't get anybody to do the overtime.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Pet owner cleared of wrongdoing after her dog allegedly bit Royal Mail manager in Westbury-on-Trym

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A DOG owner has been cleared of wrongdoing after a Royal Mail manager told a jury she was bitten by a "huge, snarling dog".

Heather Hernandez said she went out on an afternoon delivery round in Westbury-on-Trym.

She told Bristol Crown Court she refrained from posting advertising leaflets through a cottage door because she heard a dog inside.

But she said she returned when she found she had a letter and, as she tried to insert it through the letter box, the door flew open and she teetered into the hallway.

She said as she retreated she tried to close the door but the large pet appeared and bit her on her left leg.

Tessa O'Hara, 55, of Church Road, Westbury-on-Trym, denied being the owner of a dog which caused injury whilst dangerously out of control in January last year.

A jury of eight men and four women returned a verdict of not guilty in just under four hours.

Ms O'Hara declined to comment, other than to describe her mastiff boxer cross Bruce as "beautiful".

She told the jury she didn't see the incident alleged.

But when she discovered an injured Mrs Hernandez she couldn't believe Bruce had bitten her.

Susan Cavender, prosecuting, said the pet bit Mrs Hernandez after the door opened as she delivered the letter.

Mrs Hernandez told a jury she went out on a delivery run but didn't deliver advertising material through one door because she heard snarling on the other side..

But she said she returned to post a letter, and the stumbled into the hallway when the door flew open.

She told the court: "I opened the top of the letter box and because of the pressure of doing that the door just flew open.

"I was through the door, quite a way I think. I sort of fell through the door and the door slammed against the wall.

"Before I could pull the door closed a huge dog appeared. I couldn't do anything about it. I was on the pavement and it bit my leg."

Mrs Hernandez said she felt no pain but she looked down, saw blood and realised her trousers were ripped.

She said: "The lady came rushing out and called the dog off immediately. The dog obeyed her."

[motherhubbard]

Why no mention of the posting peg?

[trythat]

Why no mention of the posting peg?

There was in the first article, but she didn't have one with her, so it was her fault, I'm sure thats what would have been said to one of us in the same situation.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Why no mention of the posting peg?

"You are instructed not to put your fingers through letter boxes, you introduce your peg. I didn't have a peg.