Sheffield couple's 'fury' at police dog attack

Dawn Priestley was bitten on her arm by a police dog as officers pursued a boy

The partner of a woman savaged by a police dog while she put out her washing has spoken of the couple's anger at the attack.

The dog bit Dawn Priestley, 38, of Wincobank, Sheffield, on her right arm as police pursued a suspect on Sunday.

Mark Jones said the couple were "furious" the dog's handler did not seem in full control of the animal.

South Yorkshire Police said the Independent Police Complaints Commission was investigating.

In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said officers, including dog handlers, were called to Fife Street in Wincobank at about 14:20 BST on Sunday after receiving reports of a disturbance.

'Going into shock'

Ms Priestley, who was putting washing on the line in her back yard at the time, was bitten by a police dog while officers pursued a 16-year-old boy believed to have been involved, police said.

Mr Jones said he found his partner lying on the ground having her "bad" wounds tended to by a police officer.

Mark Jones said both he and his partner Dawn Priestley were "very angry" at the incident

"Dawn was going into shock. Her teeth were chattering and she was shivering," he said.

Ms Priestley was taken for treatment to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield where she remains in a stable condition.

The boy being pursued, who was also bitten by the dog, was treated in hospital and is now in custody, police said.

Mr Jones said both he and Ms Priestley were "very angry" at the police dog's handler.

"Let's put it this way, he couldn't get it off her and she's got three bite wounds," he said.

"She's just glad it wasn't a kid [who was hurt], that's all she keeps saying."

Officers are investigating the circumstances of the disturbance and the subsequent pursuit, a spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said.