Owner jailed after dog bites two police officers

Francis Burton admitted owning the dog

A dog owner has been jailed after her dog attacked two police officers at a house in Warwickshire.

The officers had gone to a home in Bulkington in August to arrest Francis Burton, 53, in connection with an assault in Wales, Warwickshire Police said.

They were then attacked by a large Presa Canario, named Boss, who bit one officer on the hip and the second on the arm.

Burton admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury and was given a 12-month sentence and a 10-year disqualification from owning dogs.

The force said the officers encountered a large dog barking at them from behind the front door when they arrived at Kingsley Crescent on 30 August.

They were taken to the side of the property by 71-year-old Adrian Harcourt to avoid the dog.

Checking with him that the dog was secure, they said they were searching for Burton, at which point Boss "hurtled round" the rear of the property towards them, the force said.

A female officer was bitten on her right hip which pulled her equipment from her belt and bruised her.

Warwickshire Police said her male colleague suffered puncture wounds on his right arm from the dog clamping down for about five seconds, and needed multiple stitches.

Harcourt, meanwhile, was bitten on the wrist as he attempted to get the dog under control.

Obedience classes

Burton later said three-year-old Boss was being kept in the kitchen at the time the officers arrived and must have opened the door to let himself out.

She said despite taking him to two obedience training classes, it had not worked out as Boss had a mind of his own, police said.

The dog was was seized and is subject to a destruction order, the force said.

Burton was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on Thursday.

Harcourt was sentenced last month for two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

He was given a 12-month community order, told to pay £550 in compensation and an additional £500 of kennel costs for the dog.