Man died after developing dog bite infection

Joseph James was pulled to the ground by his neighbour's dog in Workington

An elderly man died after developing a blood infection linked to being bitten on the little finger by his neighbour's Patterdale terrier.

Joseph James, 89, lost the tip of the finger on his left hand when he was pulled to the ground by the animal outside his home in Workington, Cumbria.

He developed a fever while being treated in hospital and was then diagnosed with sepsis, with his blood having been infected with a bacteria found in the mouths of dogs and cats, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

Martin Hawley, 58, of Warwick Place, admitted a charge of permitting a dog to cause injury while dangerously out of control, and was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for a year.

The court heard the bite happened on the evening of 21 October 2022, as Hawley opened his door with Mr James stood outside.

Hawley's dog, Annie, ran from the house and latched on to the pensioner's hand, pulling him to the floor.

An ambulance was called and paramedics found Mr James had suffered bruising and swelling to the left side of his head.

Two weeks later, while still being treated in hospital and having turned 90, doctors found he had sepsis, which sees the body’s immune system go into overdrive in response to an infection.

Mr James remained in hospital until his death on 17 November.

'Devastated' by death

Prosecutor Laura Broome told the court it had been a pathologist’s opinion that the blood infection "was passed into his bloodstream from the wound caused to his little finger when bitten by the dog".

It had began multiplying within the bloodstream, leading to sepsis and Mr James' death.

The court heard such bacterial bite infections could be difficult to treat, and that a small brain bleed was a contributory factor to Mr James' death.

Pneumonia in his lungs was likely a sepsis consequence, the pathologist had also concluded.

A neighbour had reported cane-using Mr James previously tormenting the dog, which had also bitten the pensioner in the past.

Acknowledging that behaviour, Judge Michael Fanning told Hawley the 21 October bite could have been foreseen, adding: "These incidents should have put you on notice that you had to be careful with Annie being around Mr James."

He said it had been a "momentary lapse" by Hawley, who he added had "demonstrated real remorse and regret".

Defence lawyer Craig MacGregor said Hawley had been "devastated" by his neighbour's death.

He explained: "The defendant, who suffers from depression, has been greatly affected by this."

The dog remains in kennels. A decision on its future will be taken by a judge after expert reports are prepared.