Tenant's dog to be destroyed after 'repeat attacks' on police

A dog owner whose German Shepherd attacked three police officers in as many months was told today that his pet will be destroyed.

Michael Marks's dog Baz lived with him in the Roath area of Cardiff (pictured), in a breach of his tenancy agreement, the city's crown court heard.

The local council previously told him to get rid of the animal after it bit a neighbour in 2005 and attacked police officers in two separate incidents in April and July 2007.

Then on July 14 last year, just 12 days after an earlier attack, police officers were called to the flat in Helen Place to check the welfare of Marks's partner, who they believed was present.

They asked 52-year-old Marks to put Baz in his yard so they could enter the flat, but as Pc Theresa Sullivan was securing a back gate, Baz was let out of the property and bit her on the thigh.

Marks denied allowing a dog to cause injury in a private place, where it was not permitted to be, but a jury found him guilty of the July 14 offence after a trial.

Judge Trevor-Jones, who gave Marks a conditional discharge, told him: "When Pc Sullivan went to check the gate, you allowed your dog to escape and go into the rear yard.

"I am satisfied that was deliberate on your part."

He said Marks failed to "control or restrain the dog when it became apparent it was attacking the constable and she was in distress".

The judge described her injuries as "unpleasant", and said the attack affected her performance as a police officer, and had altered her attitude towards dogs.

Marks was not disqualified from owning dogs, as Judge Trevor-Jones said Baz was the only pet of his to have caused problems.

He ordered that the dog, which has been kept in kennels since the attack, be destroyed.

Robert Render, defending Marks, indicated his client would appeal that decision, as he "feels emotionally" about the dog.