A Wiltshire man has been sentenced after his dog savagely attacked a delivery driver.
Senior recruitment consultant Mark Buscombe, 43, pleaded guilty to owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (9 March).
Prosecutor Tom Power said the Romanian rescue dog, named Boe, escaped from the defendant’s home in Lypiatt Road, Corsham, on 23 December last year.
Delivery driver James Coughlin was dropping off a parcel nearby when the Border Collie-cross escaped, running towards him and biting his forearm.
Suffering numerous puncture wounds in the attack, and the dog continuing to “run around out of control” in the street, a neighbour allowed him into their address to seek refuge.
Mr Coughlin was given first aid by the neighbour whilst Buscombe frantically tried to bring his pet back indoors. He was able to do this fairly quickly, before giving his details to the victim.
He was given antibiotics by doctors at the hospital on Christmas Day, though his wounds did not need to be glued or stitched.
In a statement, Mr Coughlin said he saw the dog “barking and snarling” at him through the defendant’s window regularly. Adding that it always looked “vicious”.
Wiltshire Police asked the court to consider ordering the destruction of the dog.
Specialist animal crime solicitor Gregory Gordon, defending, said his client is “shocked to find himself in this situation”. He said Buscombe is apologetic and remorseful.
He told the justices that Boe is a rescue dog from a charity that rehomes Romanian dogs. The family adopted her as a companion for the defendant’s “very ill” teenage daughter.
Mr Gordon said the pet has “never shown any hint of aggression before”, and that was backed up by a letter from a dog daycare provide Boe spends time at during the week. The provider described her as a “gentle and loving” dog who “gets on with others”.
The incident unfolded when Buscombe returned from shopping. He opened his front door with his elbow – bags in hand – and Boe was able to run out of the house.
“He is not someone who would ever have expected to find himself before your worships”, Mr Gordon told the bench as he confirmed the defendant is of good character, with no convictions.
Believing that Boe “does not constitute a danger to the public”, magistrates made a contingent destruction order. This means that rather than immediate destruction, as long as there are no further incidents, the dog remains alive. A future incident involving the pet would likely see her put to sleep.
As part of the order, Buscombe must keep Boe on a leash and muzzled in a public place and only a person over the age of 16 can have control of her.
He was also fined £500, told to pay £85 and a surcharge of £50. No compensation was requested by the prosecution and therefore no compensation was awarded to the victim.
