Woman banned from owning dogs after fatal attack

Sophie Sheppard has been banned from keeping dogs after her mastiff-cross, similar to the breed pictured above, mauled a cat to death

A woman has been banned from owning dogs for five years after her pet mauled a cat to death and bit a person.

Sophie Sheppard, 34, from Moredon in Swindon, pleaded guilty to three counts of being in control of a dog dangerously out of control and one count of common assault.

In one incident in March, she was caught attempting to shoplift from a supermarket - and then threatened to set her mastiff-cross dog on the manager.

PC Paul Croft, from Wiltshire Police, said: "We are aware this dog caused a significant amount of concern in the local community and required other pedestrians and dog walkers to go out of their way to avoid her."

In another incident on 11 April, Sheppard's pet lunged at a dog, attacking it and biting the owner. Sheppard also verbally abused the victim.

Two weeks later, her dog bit another dog, causing an injury to its leg.

On 3 May, Sheppard's dog jumped a garden fence in Akers Way, mauling a neighbour's cat to death.

The dog is now set to be put down, subject to an appeal.

PC Croft said: "Sheppard showed no inclination to train her dog and get it under better control, and instead verbally abused the victims and threatened to set it upon them.

"I'm pleased that the courts have recognised the severity of her actions."