XL Bully dog mauls man's face in horror attack in friend's kitchen
A man suffered serious injuries to his face and hands and needed hospital treatment when he was attacked by his friend's XL Bully at her home in Worksop, Nottinghamshire
An XL Bully mauled a man's face, leaving him with serious injuries to his face, in a horror attack in his friend's kitchen.
Police were called to the house in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, at about 5.45pm on August 14 after the dog attacked its owner Beverley Anderson and her friend. The man was found lying in the kitchen with serious injuries to his face and hands while Anderson had suffered "superficial" injuries to her arms.
Officers located the dog in the garden and sedated the animal before transporting it to secure kennels. Nottinghamshire Police said the man needed hospital treatment for deep bite wounds to both arms, a torn eyelid and other facial injuries.
The victim did not support a prosecution, but officers launched an investigation into the incident, charging Anderson with being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog which had caused an injury, Nottinghamshire Live reports. The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
She was banned from keeping a dog for 10 years and given a prison sentence of 12 months in jail, suspended for 12 months. Police Constable Mark Jennings, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "I'd like to thank the numerous members of the community who helped us investigate this incident.
"There was considerable concern locally that Anderson's dogs posed a threat to families following this attack and earlier incidents. The man suffered significant injuries and although he did not support a prosecution, officers carried out a thorough investigation because of this wider community concern.
"Officers who attended the scene should also be commended for providing first aid as well as safely containing and securing the dog so no one else was harmed." Since January last year it has been illegal to own an XL Bully without a Certificate of Exemption. There are also rules owners must follow including keeping the dog on a lead and muzzled in public places and ensuring it lives in a secure place with no way of escaping.
But in August, the RSPCA warned that the ban was "failing" with fatal and severe attacks persisting, despite authorities having seized thousands of suspected banned dogs. Hundreds of dogs have been euthanised under the ban, according to new data obtained from UK police forces by the charity.