Police Officer Denies Dog Being Dangerously Out of Control

A serving police officer has pleaded not guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control that injured another person.

PC Paul Youll, 41, of Cleveland Police, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court last week. The fact he is still serving disqualifies a more local court from dealing with the matter.

It is alleged that the veteran dog handler was in charge of Police Dog Ilko, which was dangerously out of control near to Ormesby Stables, Ormesby Hall on the evening of 6th June 2016. Whilst out of control PD Ilko is said to have caused injury to Jonathan Taylor, contrary to section 3(1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Reports from the time indicate that Mr Taylor suffered bite puncture marks to his arm and upper body. He was treated for his injuries at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

Following the incident PD Ilko was removed from duties and has subsequently been put to sleep.

Magistrates adjourned the case until Wednesday, 14th March at Newcastle Crown Court. PC Youll was granted unconditional bail until the next hearing.

This is a very interesting case. Police dogs are trained to be intimidating and act aggressively, which would normally be considered aggravating features of this offence. That said, there is little doubt that PC Youll is a very experienced and competent dog handler, who would have been trying his absolute best to work PD Ilko in a safe and controlled manner.

We will be following developments in this case closely.

Update (19/5/2019): You can now read the eventual conclusion of this case.

Magistrates Accused of Leniency After Merseyside Woman Bottled Bouncer

A woman has been convicted of assault after CCTV footage captured the moment she smashed a glass bottle over the back of a doorman's head.

Sophie Robson, 25, of Litherland, pleaded guilty to the charge at South Sefton Magistrates' Court and was handed 300 hours of community service and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and costs of £85.

Her victim, 42-year-old Stephen Bond, was intervening in a street fight outside The Harbour Bar, in Waterloo, when Robson struck him over the head. Despite his wound gushing with blood, he continued to break up the brawling group of women.

Mr Bond is angry at the apparent leniency of Robson's sentence, saying that it the roles were reversed he would probably have been sent to prison.

There is some debate over whether or not Magistrates have imposed too lenient a sentence in this case. It must be stressed that the distant observer cannot know the full circumstances of the offence or the defendant. It does, however, strike us as odd that the Crown Prosecution Service elected to pursue a charge of common assault (a summary offence) in this case, when a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (an either way offence) might have been more appropriate. Had Robson been convicted of the more serious charge she would have had a far greater chance of receiving an immediate custodial sentence.

The Magistrates can only deal with the charges laid before the court. If the CPS chooses to lay lesser charges, for whatever reason, then that is a matter entirely for it.