Captain Jon Earp has been hailed a hero with a judge saying he saved the life of a man after he borrowed a gun and shot dead an out of control XL bully that was attacking people in Gwynedd, Wales
An air ambulance pilot has been hailed a hero for shooting dead a rampaging XL Bully that was attacking people.
Captain Jon Earp borrowed a farmer’s shotgun to fire at the dangerous animal and a judge has now praised the pilot for his bravery, saying it saved a person’s life. The attack took place after a landlord arrived at an isolated property in Gwynedd, Wales, to collect rent from his tenants.
When the landlord sounded his car horn the tenants’ dog became aggressive and attacked him, as well as the dog’s owner and her husband. Lisa Grant, 56, admitted being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing serious injury to her landlord Gwilym Wyn Roberts in Rhoshirwaun near Pwllheli on November 17, 2023.
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A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court, who heard Grant was bitten and suffered life-changing issues herself, today gave her an eight-month jail term suspended for 12 months. Prosecutor Will Griffin said at 11.29am that day North Wales Police were told that “multiple individuals” had been bitten by a dog running loose at Top Rhos Farm in Rhoshirwaun, reported NorthWalesLive.
The landlord, Mr Roberts, with his son Thomas, had been collecting rent from tenants Lisa and Roger Grant at a property 200 metres down a single track, off a country road. The dog attacked Mr Roberts and Mr Grant then Mrs Grant intervened but she was also bitten while Mr Roberts’ son rang 999.
The court also heard how a Wales Air Ambulance landed at the scene. The helicopter pilot, Captain Earp, in consultation with a police inspector, borrowed a shotgun and shot the animal four times, as the first shot apparently had no effect.
In a statement Mr Roberts said months later his scars hadn’t healed. He said it was a “horrible” experience and he now avoids aggressive dogs. Mrs Grant suffered an “awful” injury to her hand which required reconstruction, the court heard.
Amy Edwards, defending Mrs Grant, now of Criccieth, said the dog tore Mr Roberts’ trousers and “did nothing more than cut his skin”. The dog attacked Mrs Grant’s husband and Mrs Grant was “screaming” as she “attempted to intervene”. Ms Edwards said Mrs Grant sustained a significant injury as she tried to regain control of the dog which had never shown signs of aggression before.
She is awaiting her fourth surgery on her arm. Mrs Grant could not return to the scene “mentally” and she has been rehoused by Adra housing association and her remaining dogs have been rehomed by the RSPCA.
The judge, Her Honour Nicola Jones, noted it was “extremely terrifying” for Mr Roberts, that Mr Grant had life-threatening and life-changing injuries and that Mrs Grant has PTSD and needs grafts on her arm.
The pilot, Captain Earp would be formally commended for his actions, with the judge saying: “He and the crew and all the emergency services were all put at risk because this dog was dangerously out of control.
“As a result of his actions, which were taking a shotgun from a neighbouring farmer and shooting the dog, it took four shots to destroy the dog at the scene – the first shot had no impact whatsoever.” He acted due to the “ferocity, strength and danger of the animal…(and) saved the life of the partner (Mr Grant) and ensured he got the treatment he needed”.
The judge said the dog, which was called Ricoh, had been “relentless” and Cpt Earp had taken the “difficult” decision to euthanise him as armed police were too far away at the time. Suspending the jail sentence, she ordered Mrs Grant to do 15 days of rehabilitation activity. She was also banned from keeping animals indefinitely.