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‘Dangerous’
St. Bernard case adjourned again!
THE CASE of a St Bernard accused of attacking a police officer
which was due to be heard at Crawley Magistrates’ Court
on last Monday (July 22nd), under the 1871 Dogs Act, was once
again adjourned.
As reported previously in OUR DOGS, Steve Prestage was putting
some tools away in his garage at his home in Copthorne, near
Crawley, West Sussex on the morning of March 22nd when he saw
a police van pull up in the lane near his home. Police Sergeant
Paul Huntley got out of the van and walked up Mr Prestage’s
drive, apparently ignoring a prominent ‘Beware of the Dog’
sign fastened to the gate, to ask directions to a nearby cottage.
Mr Prestage’s six-year-old St Bernard Yogie started barking
at the officer, whom he saw as an intruder on his territory.
Mr Prestage called out to Sgt Huntley to stay where he was and
that he would get Yogie indoors, but the officer ignored him
and continued to march towards the dog. Yogie lunged at the
officer and bit him in the arm, leaving a puncture wound. Sgt
Huntley is said to have spent two nights in hospital receiving
treatment for the injury.
Sussex police seized Yogie a week later under Section 3 of the
1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, for being ‘dangerously out of
control in a public place’.
Mr Prestage’s solicitor has been advised by well-known
DDA solicitor Trevor Cooper, and experts have been called in
to assess Yogie’s temperament.
Mr Prestage opted for trial by jury when the matter came to
court last month. However, just 24 hours before the case was
due to be heard, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charge
under the DDA and opted instead for a lesser charge under the
less draconian 1871 Dogs Act. The new trial date was originally
set for 20th June. However, the hearing was adjourned and the
new date set for last Monday.
Yogie was later released from custody and brought back to Mr
Prestage, now apparently no longer considered to be a ‘dangerous
dog’. Mr Prestage confirmed that Yogie had been well cared
for during his incarceration and that he was in good condition.
Mr Prestage also expressed his joy at Yogie’s release,
but also added that he would fight “all the way” to
ensure that his pet was found not guilty and subjected to any
sort of restrictions, as he was provoked by the police officer
failing to heed repeated warnings.
Sussex police commented that Sgt Huntley was carrying out his
normal duties when he was attacked by Yogie, and therefore some
form of restriction being placed on the dog would be appropriate.
The case was adjourned until August 22nd, due to the non-availability
of a principal expert witness.
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