Hound to be muzzled after sinking teeth into Postie

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DOG BITES POSTMAN: Hound to be muzzled after sinking teeth into Derbyshire postie


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A DOG will not be destroyed despite attacking a postman in the front garden of a Derbyshire home.

Nine-year-old German Shepherd Tyson sank his teeth into the worker as he tried to hand mail to the dog’s owner Unjum Bala.

Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard how the attack took place at 12.45pm on June 11.

George Speed, prosecuting, said: “The postman was delivering post to an address in Sandiacre when he was attacked by a black and tan German Shepherd called Tyson that belonged to the defendant.

“He saw the dog was going to get out of the door and shouted at the defendant but it managed to escape into the front garden.

“He turned away from the door and then felt the dog bite him in the back of his left elbow before it started to bite him on his back.

“The attack left puncture wounds and claw marks from the dog on his arms and back and she eventually was able to drag it back into the house.

“The postman had to go to the doctors to be given a tetanus jab and was also given a course of antibiotics following the attack.”

Mr Speed said at first the postman was not going to pursue a court case against Miss Bala but changed his mind and called the police.

They questioned and arrested the 55-year-old, of Chestnut Grove, Sandiacre.

In interview she first denied that she witnessed her dog attack the postman saying she only saw it “bark at him”.

But when she was shown the injuries she admitted the offence saying her dog “may have thought the postman was trying to attack her because he held out her post” to her.

Bala pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control in relation to the offence.

Sarah Rust, for Bala, said her client worked two days a week for a Ministry of Defence contractor and was divorced from her husband.

She has owned Tyson for nine years and was “a timid and shy” person who has been “shocked herself” by the incident.

Ms Rust said: “My client is a fit and proper person to own a dog and this was an isolated incident.

“This is a dog whose general behaviour is not aggressive.”

Magistrates handed Miss Bala a £153 fine, ordered her to pay the postman £450 compensation, £85 costs and a £20 victim impact surcharge.

They placed a contingency dog destruction order on Tyson, which means he must be muzzled and on a lead when out in public places.

If it attacks someone again it may have to be put down, Miss Bala was warned.

Speaking after sentencing Shaun Davis, Royal Mail group director of safety, health, wellbeing and sustainability said; “Dog attacks are a significant hazard faced by postmen and women on a daily basis.

“On average around nine postmen and women a day are attacked by dogs across the UK with over 3,300 attacks taking place from April 2013 to April 2014, some leading to a permanent disabling injury.

“We are only too aware of the life changing physical and psychological injuries that can be sustained from dog attacks.

“Nobody should have to endure this and our postmen and women along with people who work in the community, should not be at increased risk of such attacks simply because of the job they do.

“Royal Mail actively campaigns, with support from the CWU, politicians and a number of animal organisations, to raise awareness of this important issue and encourage responsible dog ownership.

“With the new legal protections and with greater public awareness, I hope we can see a significant reduction in the number of incidents in future.”