Huge mastiff dog savaged female chimney sweep while she was working, leaving her in 'unbearable' pain with wounds 'too large to be stitched'

A huge mastiff dog savaged a female chimney sweep while she was working, leaving her in 'unbearable' pain with wounds 'too large to be stitched'.

The three year old Cane Corso - called Hendrix - bit Katie Foster on the arms and leg while she was working in December 2022, a court heard.

Owner Glyn Davies had failed to shut a kitchen door behind him when his dog leapt up at the helpless woman and 'clamped its teeth' into her forearm.

The 60 year old pleaded with her not to report the incident as it would get 'put down' before later suggesting they pretend a different dog had attacked her.

The Cane Corso - which is a breed of mastiff descended from Molossian war dogs of ancient Rome - had previously bitten someone else and was under a 'dog behaviour contract'.

After admitting one charge of being a person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, Davies was handed a suspended jail sentence but bowed his head as his dog was ordered to be destroyed by a judge.

The sweep, who has been left with both physical and psychological scars as she is now 'afraid' when she hears a dog barking behind a door, was also awarded £500 in compensation.

A Cane Corso has a muscular, stocky physique and stands up to 28in tall and weighs up to 110lb (55kg). It can be used as a guard dog to protect cattle.

Prosecutor Lisa Bowles told Winchester Crown Court the dog was already the subject of a dog behaviour contract after a previous attack in May 2022.

The first victim went to police after needing to go to hospital to have the wound 'cleaned and dressed' having been bitten on the arm, the court heard.

Ms Bowles said that under conditions issued by Winchester City Council, the dog had to be on lead whilst walked in public, required to wear a muzzle, be in control of a responsible person and not be left in the charge of under-16s. 

However just seven months after the dog behaviour contract was issued, Hendrix attacked Ms Foster.

Ms Bowles said: 'The victim is Katie Foster, who works as a chimney sweep.

'She attended the defendant's brother's address in [Winchester]. Ms Foster was sweeping the chimney in the living room and was aware of a dog barking.

'[Davies] walked into the kitchen area and failed to properly shut the door behind him.

'The dog escaped and bit Ms Foster on the leg and her two arms.

'He told the dog it was in a world of trouble and told Ms Foster, "Please don't report my dog - it will be put down".'

The court heard the chimney sweep was left with bleeding puncture wounds and required hospital treatment.

Ms Bowles said Davies attended a voluntary interview with police, where he revealed the dog had originally been bought for his daughter.

He admitted the dog had bitten Ms Foster and previously someone else so attended one dog behaviour session, but he could not afford any more.

The court heard he refused to hand Hendrix over to Hampshire Constabulary, but his pet was seized in March last year and remained in kennels.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, Ms Foster said she was now afraid of dogs, having never had a fear before.

'I work in dozens of houses and many of my customers have dogs,' she said.

'Now I feel afraid when I hear a dog behind a front door.'

In mitigation, James Meredith said Davies, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, did not 'constitute a bad dog owner' as it was a momentary lapse of attention.

He said Hendrix was of 'good temperament' and 'loving' with family members upon which his destruction would have a 'devastating' effect.

However, an expert's report was read to the court which said: 'He is an extremely large and powerful dog.

'Innately strong and territorial instincts have been enhanced to a dangerous level.'

Addressing Davies, Recorder Richard Tutt said he had 'failed to comply' with the dog behaviour contract and was 'significantly aggravated' by his efforts to stop the authorities finding out about it.

Passing judgement on the dog which had left 'gaping' wounds, he continued: 'Ms Foster could hear a dog continually barking through a door, was in the process of packing up when you yourself returned to the address.

'She was speaking to your partner when your dog ran into the living room, leapt onto her leg and bit her left arm and then clamped its teeth into her right forearm.

'She describes skin breaking and pain being unbearable such that she thought a bone had been broken - blood was dripping

'In all the circumstances of this case, it is with regret that I am satisfied that he does constitute a danger to public safety.

'In spite of [the dog behaviour contract], the dog then attacked Ms Foster when she was working at the address, again causing injury and requiring treatment.

'In all those circumstances a contingent destruction order would not protect the public.'

He therefore ordered the dog be destroyed upon the expiration of the appeal process.

Davies was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation requirement days, 40 hours of unpaid work and pay Ms Foster £500 compensation.