Kinmel Bay: Dog owners sentenced for holiday park attack

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Thomas Matthew SkillenImage source, North Wales Police
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Thomas Skillen's Rottweiler-cross Kilo attacked and injured four people in a pub

A man whose dog injured four people in a "frightening" attack in a holiday park pub has been jailed.

Thomas Skillen, 29, and his stepdad Ian Loftus, 59, admitted being in charge of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control in public.

Loftus, of Argoed, Kinmel Bay, was given a 14-month sentence, suspended for two years.

Skillen, of Marine Road, Abergele, also admitted affray and assault and was given a 30-month prison sentence.

Mold Crown Court heard on Friday how, on 15 September last year, Skillen and Loftus brought Kilo, a Rottweiler-cross, to the Magpie and Stump pub at Palin's Holiday Park in Kinmel Bay, Conwy county.

While in the outside seating area, Skillen was asked to stop Kilo from jumping on the tables and responded by telling a female member of security staff "my dog wants to give you a kiss", before leaving the pub.

Skillen later returned and shouted abuse at security staff before climbing over the fence into the beer garden.

He was repeatedly asked to leave and a security officer attempted to restrain Skillen, who proceeded to bite him.

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Holiday park staff and security responded "as swiftly as possible", the park says

Meanwhile, Loftus had also arrived at the beer garden with Kilo. The dog bit a member of staff, causing an injury to her arm, and bit a customer, injuring his arm and bicep.

Kilo went on to attack and bite another two people, after jumping out of the back window of the defendants' car. Both victims suffered puncture wounds and bruising.

Three of the four people attacked required hospital treatment.

Deanne McGinty, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This was a frightening incident for members of the public, including children, who were holidaying at the park and for the members of staff working at the public house."

Loftus was also ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities and both men must pay £187 in charges.