A child was left with permanent scarring after being bitten by an XL Bully-type dog in January 2024. After the incident, the dog’s owner didn’t want police to know how it happened
An XL Bully-type dog bit a nine-year-old girl in the face before its owner then begged the child’s mum not to tell the police, a court heard.
The victim was left with permanent scarring after being left unsupervised with the animal, named Rocky, at an address in Nottingham in January 2024. When the girl was taken to hospital, the dog’s owner, 33-year-old Elizabeth Boot, begged her and her mother not to tell cops how the injury occurred “or it would get put down,” Nottingham Crown Court was told. Boot, from Sneinton, Nottinghamshire, gave false details when asked for them while at the hospital, the court heard. As a result of the incident, the girl had to take time off school and now has permanent scarring under her eyes.
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Rocky has now been returned to its owner after a dog behaviour expert produced a report in which he concluded he could be safely come back to the home. Devni Kitulagoda, prosecuting, said the incident happened at an address in Nottingham on January 4, 2024. He said the girl was unsupervised with the dog which suddenly bit her just under her eye, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
The prosecutor said: “The defendant’s partner then began shouting that Rocky was going to be put down and begged her and her mother not to say that Rocky had bitten (the girl). She received a number of injuries including a deep gash under her eye and attended the QMC where she received stitches.
“While there, the defendant gave a false name and false details. Officers then attained her address on January 8 and while there Rocky had to be held back.”
Boot later pleaded guilty to being in control of a dog which was dangerously out of control and injured a person. Lucia Harrington, mitigating, said Boot has children aged nine and 11 who both have ADHD and autism.
She said: “I asked her what would happen if she was sent immediately to custody today and she said her children would have to go into care.” Boot was handed a 16-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, as judge Mark Watson described the incident involving the little girl as “frightening and scary”, and said her response made it worse.
The judge said: “This was a frightening and scary incident, it must have been, and was made worse by your response to it. Rather than show concern for the girl, you were more concerned about Rocky and the impact on you and your family.
“It was selfish behaviour and behaviour you should be ashamed of. But it was a quick bite and I am satisfied it was snapping rather than the dog taking hold and mauling. And (having heard the expert evidence) I am satisfied that Rocky does not pose a danger to the public.
“This was not an incident out of the blue without explanation and (concerns) the behaviour of children around dogs.” As part of her suspended sentence, Boot will need to attend 15 rehabilitation sessions and contribute £1,000 towards the £12,000 kenneling costs which have already been incurred.
She also faces strict rules around Rocky, namely having to fit gates at the entrance of her home and in her living room, lock the dog in a separate room if anyone under the age of 16 visits the property, and attend sessions with a dog behaviour analyst.