Derby: Woman sentenced after Staffie attacks dog walker

A women and her greyhound were attacked by the dog in Merrill Way, Shelton Lock

A woman has been given a suspended sentence after her Staffordshire bull terrier attacked a dog and its owner.

Aimee Barber, 39, left her dog Patch under the care of her children while at a spa day on 10 April.

The dog escaped the home, in Merrill Way, Shelton Lock, Derby, and attacked a dog walker and her greyhound.

Barber admitted to owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury and was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for a year.

On Tuesday, Derby Crown Court heard Patch had already been placed under a voluntary control order following a separate incident which had taken place in 2022.

However, the dog managed to escape through an open side gate after being left with Barber's children.

A dog walker said she saw the dog run across the street and attack her greyhound, which suffered several bite marks.

'Huge cost'

While trying to protect her dog, the woman was bitten on the hand.

She said her vet bills costed more than £3,000.

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Bennett, told Barber to pay £750 towards the bills.

However, he refused to allow a destruction order for the dog, requested by Barber who said she did not think it was appropriate to take the dog home again.

Judge Bennett said as the dog had already been staying at police kennels at "huge cost to the taxpayer", it was now her responsibility to decide on the dog's future.