An XL Bully owner set his dog on a woman who attempted to intervene in an argument between him and his girlfriend.
Liam Rainey took off his dog’s muzzle and told his dog “good dog, get her” before the XL Bully launched its attack and bit the woman.
The dog jumped up on the woman and bit her arm and chest in a street in Wigan.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Rainey and his girlfriend had began to argue on Windermere Road, Ince, on Sunday, June 11, last year when the victim tried to defuse the situation.
The 26-year-old was sentenced to three years in prison for using his dog “as a weapon” and is banned from owning a dog for five years.
Judge Sarah Johnston said: “I regard the dog as one of your victims as well.”
Prosecutor Ellen Shaw said the victim was at home with her niece who received a text message from Rainey asking whether his girlfriend was there.
She told him she was elsewhere, but Rainey didn’t believe her.
The pair drove to meet Rainey’s girlfriend, but bumped into her in the street before Rainey also arrived at the scene on foot with his dog.
The court heard there was an “altercation” between Rainey and his girlfriend before he set his dog on the victim.
More to follow…
