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REPRIEVE FOR DOG THAT BIT PAPERBOY
A SEAFORD town councillor has won a legal battle to save her dog from being destroyed after it attacked and bit a paperboy.
Councillor Lindsay Freeman's golden retriever Samson sank his teeth into the 14-year-old victim's arm during an incident near her home.
The dog went for Timothy Bennett when the youngster tried to assist Cllr Freeman by picking up the lead of her other pet, a labrador called Ben.
He sustained a deep wound which bled heavily and had to be treated at the Lewes Victoria Hospital.
Cllr Freeman, 56, the Lib Dem member for Seaford East, was convicted of having a dog that was dangerously out of control at a trial earlier this month.
She did not attend that hearing but appeared in court for sentencing on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Andrew Holt told Lewes magistrates the incident in Maurice Road occurred on the morning of September 10 last year.
The victim and a friend were delivering papers in the area when Timothy spotted Cllr Freeman walking her two dogs as he came out of a garden.
Mr Holt said Timothy believed she had dropped Ben's lead as it was dangling on the road and 'made his way across to assist' and picked up the lead.
He said, "The second dog, a golden retriever, moved forward and bit his right arm and punctured the skin and he had to attend hospital."
Mr Holt said the injury was 'very deep and bleeding a lot' and left him with his arm in a sling for a while.
The injury also delayed the victim's college studies, prevented him carrying out hobbies with his friends and left him fearful of dogs he did not know
Cllr Freeman was later quizzed by police and said Ben always carried his lead in his mouth and was 'no problem'.
She said she normally put a muzzle on the 'very friendly and slightly excitable' Samson but had forgotten on the day of the incident.
Peter Knight, defending, said Cllr Freeman had owned Samson since getting him from a rescue centre in 1997.
He said, "It is a dog that has brought her and her family great happiness.
"These proceedings have been an extreme burden on her. She is of a nervous disposition and found the prospect of court extremely frightening.
"It has been an act of will for her to attend court today.
"On the day in question she decided to take the dogs for a short walk as a break from an Open University course.
"Both are extremely friendly and bouncy dogs and it appears Ben went forward to play with the boy.
"Tim bent down and picked up the lead and Mrs Freeman says she told him to drop the lead on a couple of occasions but for whatever reason he did not.
"It's unclear why Sam jumped up — whether he was jumping for the lead or playing or thought he was attacking him in some way.
"Mrs Freeman immediately took Sam and Ben inside and then came outside, having secured them, and treated the injury to Tim's arm.
"There have been no incidents since this in relation to the dog."
Mr Knight said Cllr Freeman was registered as disabled as a result of injuries sustained in an accident in 1973 when she was run down by a drink-driver.
She sustained serious pelvic injuries in the smash which left her in a coma for 10 days, had to learn to walk again and suffers 'ongoing problems'.
Mr Knight said that Cllr Freeman devoted much of her life to public service.
In addition to being a councillor she has been a primary school governor, a youth club leader and by profession has been a secondary school teacher and a teacher of English as a foreign language.
He said, "The commitment and help she has shown to the community is remarkable."
The court was also given a number of 'character references' for Samson from people including her local vet and postman testifying that the dog had no history of aggression.
Magistrates decided not to order Samson's destruction — to the clear relief of Cllr Freeman.
For the offence itself they decided to impose no penalty and gave her an absolute discharge.
But they decided to impose strict restrictions on Samson in public places after telling Cllr Freeman she had 'a clear duty' to keep him under control.
They ordered that he must be muzzled whenever taken out in public and must also be kept on a short, non-extendable lead.
Cllr Freeman was also ordered to pay the injured boy 200 compensation and a further 200 in court costs.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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