An XL Bully dog owner has been jailed after his dog left a 12-year-old girl with life-changing injuries following a terrifying attack.
Justin Allison’s vicious dog Rocco, which was unmuzzled and off a lead, ‘latched on’ to the schoolgirl and sank its teeth into her arm.
Newport Crown Court heard that the girl was rescued after her brave father wrestled the beast off of his daughter following the horrific mauling in Brynmawr, south Wales.
Allison, 38, who admitted having a banned breed to the court, reportedly walked over but ‘didn’t come close’ and ‘didn’t do anything’.
After the attack the animal then attempted to bite the girl’s mother before Allison regained control of his pet.
The father was uninjured but the child’s arm was severely damaged – with the bone and tendons exposed – and she was treated at the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran in south Wales.
Since the attack last October, her wounds are said to be ‘healing well,’ the court heard.
Prosecutor Lisa Lewis previously said: ‘She (the victim) saw a dog running very fast towards her and it reached her in seconds. As it got closer it began growling at her and she felt very scared and turned to run to her dad.
‘It jumped on the girl’s back and as she covered her head it latched onto her arm.
‘The next thing she could remember was her dad on top of the dog, wrestling it.
‘She has then walked into the middle of the road to shout for help. The dog owner has then appeared. She said he walked over but didn’t come close and wouldn’t do anything.
‘She described him as not being bothered to help her dad while she was shouting in the middle of the road. She managed to push her dad in the direction of the owner and he managed to put a lead on the dog.’
The court heard Allison told the girl and her father that if anyone wanted him he would be at his home nearby.
Miss Lewis said: ‘He did not offer any assistance at all. The girl’s mother arrived and had a go at the defendant asking why there was no muzzle on the dog.
‘The dog then tried to go for her mother but thankfully the defendant told the mother to go away and pulled the dog back.’
Allison admitted possessing a banned breed without a licence, in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place on December 9.
Patrick Meadows, defending, said Allison pleaded guilty at the ‘first opportunity’ and was apologising and showing remorse after what happened.
The court heard that Allison is single and lives with his grandparents.
Two people were arrested following the attack on October 7 and the dog was seized and humanely destroyed by a veterinary surgeon.
Allison, of Ebbw Vale, appeared today at Newport Crown Court and was jailed for three years.
He was also banned from owning dogs for 10 years.
Detective Chief Inspector Virginia Davies, the senior investigating officer, said: ‘Allison failed to keep his dog under control and a girl was viciously attacked, causing serious injuries.
‘We wish her the very best with her ongoing recovery following this attack.
‘This case should serve as a reminder to all dog owners of the importance of having your dog under control at all times.
‘We take all reports of suspected irresponsible dog ownership seriously and we urge everyone to follow the legislation and guidance to prevent events like this happening in the future.’