Hazel will be destroyed after her owner was spared jail
A South London dog that was beaten and abused in the street will be killed after it was allowed to attack two men. Hazel, a white Staffordshire Bull Terrier, will be destroyed after her 57-year-old owner Paul Notice was spared jail at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday (September 16), following his conviction for two counts of owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.
Notice received a 13-month sentence suspended for 18 months, but he was not ordered to do any unpaid work or attend any rehabilitation sessions. Judge Darren Reed also banned Notice from owning another dog for 10 years, and told him to pay £600 in compensation to the victims.
Warning him about further offences, Judge Reed said: “You have missed an immediate sentence of imprisonment by the narrowest of margins. You know that. I know that. And you know that I know that. If there’s any breach of this order, I reserve the case to myself.”
The court heard both attacks happened at Notice’s supported accommodation on Daley Thompson Way in Lambeth. The first on September 27, 2024 saw Wayne Gibson bitten on the arm and the leg, requiring treatment to stem the blood and a tetanus jab.
The second time on October 21, Hazel locked onto the arm of Toby Stradwick in a ‘sustained’ attack and he spent six days in hospital.
On both occasions, Hazel was off the lead, against the hostel rules, and unmuzzled, against advice given to Notice by an animal support group. Describing their experiences, Mr Gibson said he woke up ‘bleeding heavily’, while Mr Stradwick said the ‘bone of his arm was visible with lots of blood coming out on the floor’.
The court also heard disturbing allegations in police reports, one from a member of the public that described Notice walking his dog and ‘punching it on it’s face, he’s slapping the dog right now’. Crime reports also detailed two more alleged attacks by Hazel, including an ambulance callout on June 26, 2024, and a bottom biting incident on August 22 2024.
Notice, who had a deprived upbringing and recently gave up crack cocaine, will pay £200 to Mr Gibson and £400 to Mr Stradwick at a rate of £50 a month.
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