The court has ordered the destruction of a Trowbridge man’s dog – an Alsatian-Rottweiler mix – after its second attack in three years.
56-year-old James ‘Jim’ Hulbert, who is registered blind, appeared at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court today having been convicted of owning a dog that caused injury whilst dangerously out of control last month.
The defendant, of Summerleaze, was convicted of the same offence involving the same dog – named Angel – in 2019. In that attack, she bit the hand of a woman outside his home.
In 2019, the court imposed a contingent destruction order (CDO) which required Angel to be muzzled and on a lead in public places – including his front garden. The order meant that if the conditions were not followed, the dog could be destroyed.
This afternoon, crown prosecutor Ryan Seneviratne said the defendant told the court that Angel mauled a six-year-old Bichon Frise whilst on a walk at around 7am on 4 December last year, causing it serious injuries.
He said Hulbert was walking the dog – alongside his other dog Rocky – using a rope, rather than a lead, and it was not muzzled at the time of the incident – despite the court order.
Spot, the victim of the attack, suffered wounds to her body and hind legs – all of which needed stitches.
Her owner, an 84-year-old woman, ended up on the floor as she tried to rescue Spot from Angel’s clutches. In the ordeal, lasting around seven minutes, she suffered bruising to her arm.
Mr Seneviratne said Spot’s owner incurred veterinary fees of £592.52.
He asked the bench to destroy Angel as she poses a significant risk to the public and said Hulbert was not a “fit and proper person” in the eyes of the law. Adding that the CDO was not followed. He also asked for the defendant to be disqualified from owning dogs.
Defence solicitor Richard Griffiths told the court his client has been blind for 44 years and has an “intense personal connection” to his dogs. His other dog, Rocky, has never been in trouble.
He said Hulbert had muzzled Angel before leaving the house that morning and as far as he was aware, the dog remained muzzled. He claimed Angel had somehow broken free from it during the walk.
Mr Griffiths added that his client would have noticed if he was not blind, “but there’s nothing he can do about that”, he said. He accepts was negligent as he didn’t check the muzzle regularly during the walk.
“Mr Hulbert wants to apologise unreservedly to the lady”, Mr Griffiths commented. He said his client would gladly pay her vet bills.
He said the defendant had been struggling due to living alone; Angel provides emotional support. She was seized some time ago and remains in the care of the Wiltshire Police kennels.
Magistrates retired to discuss the matter for more than 30 minutes before returning to deliver the news to Hulbert.
They ordered the destruction of Angel and banned him from owning dogs for five years. He was told to expect the hear from the police who would arrange the seizure of his other dog Rocky.
The bench also imposed a £500 fine and ordered him to pay £592.52 compensation for the victim’s veterinary bills and Wiltshire Police £500 compensation for the cost of caring for Angel.
