Lakaydia Reynolds was pinned to the ground by a pack of dogs owned by Darren Massay in Brixton, south London, and needed plastic surgery after suffering nerve damage
A young woman needed plastic surgery after she was savaged by a man’s “big, strong dogs” – including a Pitbull Terrier – in a park.
Lakaydia Reynolds, 24, was unable to play rugby or her violin for some time after the mauling as she temporarily lost use of her right arm. Darren Massay’s Pitbull Terrier, American Bully cross-breed, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross-breed pinned Ms Reynolds to the ground, bit her face and dragged her by the head.
A court heard Massay, 28, “put dogs in a pack” and his “stupidity” led to the horror in Brixton, south London, on June 6, 2023. Massay alleges he did not know Rocco, the Pitbull Terrier, was banned, claims accepted by the judge at Inner London Crown Court.
Rocco has already been put down, and Judge David Richards gave an order for the other two to be put to sleep as well. Judge Richards, though, suspended Massay’s 14-month prison sentence for 18 months. Massay will have to complete 35 days of a rehabilitation requirement and 150 hours of unpaid work, and will also have to pay £2,500 in compensation to Ms Reynolds within 12 months. The defendant was also banned from owning a dog for 10 years.
The court was told Ms Reynolds spent one week in hospital after the attack and needed plastic surgery after suffering nerve damage to her lip. The ordeal has had a significant impact on her life, the judge was told.
Judge Richards told Massay: “On 6 June last year Lakaydia Reynolds went out. She lived with her family close to that park. She was an active, thoughtful, resourceful person with diverse interests including rugby, music, her studies and her family. You knew the dogs were problematic which is why you would normally only take one out at a time.
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“They were on leads and were without muzzles -big strong dogs. Three dogs in a pack act as a pack. It is the way they operate. Any experienced dog owner, and anyone who has done the groundwork before they get a dog knows that.
“You put dogs in a pack and they become a pack. That is what these dogs did… I accept that you are horrified by this. You should not have been that surprised, frankly.
“The stupidity of what you did is substantial. The consequences of that stupidity are permanent for Ms Reynolds. She has to live with what you allow to happen. You did not want this to happen but it was your fault… I accept that you did not know that Rocco was prohibited, and you did try to pull the dogs off.”
Massay, from the Tulse Hill area of south London, had at an earlier hearing admitted three counts of being the owner of a dangerous dog. The court heard two of the dogs started to circle Ms Reynolds in a park as soon as Massay let them off their leads.
Jack Williams, prosecuting, said: “They jumped up at her. Mr Massay attempted to call the dogs off but was not successful. Ms Reynolds was bitten a considerable number of times. She was also distressed that the video of the attack went viral. Vile comments were left under that video.
Mr Williams said there is no suggestion that Massay was responsible for that. He added: “She feels that the incident ruined her life. She is fearful that the injuries have changed her life forever including her appearance. It has affected her social life.”
In October last year, Ms Reynolds told reporters: “It turned out to be the worst day of my entire life. I was screaming, asking for help, asking him for help.
“It was just me against these three dogs. The owner himself actually started asking for help, which made me even more scared – because I thought, if he can’t control his dogs, then who can?
“I had to loosen my hoodie and take my hoodie off, and tear my arm out of the dog’s mouth. If I didn’t get away within the split second that I did, I knew those dogs were going to kill me.
“I’ve been impacted mentally, socially, emotionally and physically. “One of the most difficult things for me is the fact that I can’t do anything myself, so I have to rely on people to help me.”
