A man whose two out-of-control dogs left a delivery man with ‘permanent scars’ after they mauled him in their owner’s front garden has been spared jail.
Kieran Morris, 21, kept his dogs in ‘appalling’ conditions, a court heard, before they attacked the volunteer who was delivering a food parcel in Newcastle’s West End on August 19, 2023.
Morris, who lived with his mother on Beech Grove Road, was charged with being the owner of a dog out of control, causing serious injury, to which he pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court.
The court heard today that when police were called to Morris’ home, they found a total of four dogs living in awful conditions, surrounded by faeces.
A victim impact statement read to the court said: ‘During the attack, I genuinely believed I could be killed.
‘Being attacked by two dogs made me feel powerless. I have been left with permanent scars. The owner did nothing to stop the attack.’
Prosecuting, Daisy Wrigley recounted the incident, explaining how the unnamed victim went up to Morris’ house and spotted the animals in the gated front garden.
The man had delivered food there before and so went in and began to pet the dogs to gauge if they were friendly or not.
Kieran Morris, 21, was spared jail after he kept his dogs in ‘appalling’ conditions before they attacked the deliveryman, leaving him with ‘permanent scars’, a court heard
Morris was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work. The judge said: ‘Dogs, nor people should be living in those conditions’
Initially, they seemed to be – both licking his hand as he entered the garden and closed the gate.
But as he approached the door, the situation took a turn as the two dogs blocked his path.
ChronicleLive reported how Ms Wrigley told jurors: ‘Their demeanour changed and they became aggressive.
‘They began biting him, starting with his wrists. He tried to push them away but they kept approaching him.
‘They continued to bite him, causing him to scream for help. They both pinned him against a gate and he realised he was bleeding. He tried to kick them away but they continued approaching him.’
He was rushed to hospital with several injuries on his hands and wrists. Police were called and seized three dogs in total.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the yard covered in faeces, overflowing bins, a chewed sofa and mattress and doors tied shut with leads and dressing gown cords.
Dog food bowls were found with little food in them in the kitchen and dirty water.
When questioned on their living standards, Morris said that the dogs were too boisterous to be kept in the same room together.
The three seized dogs are still in the process of being rehomed, the court heard. This effort has cost the taxpayer £20,000 since they were seized.
Defending, Lucy Todd said that Morris, aged 19 at the time, did not appreciate the ‘responsibilities of dog ownership’ and has ‘learned from his mistake’.
She added: ‘They were trusted family dogs and had shown no indication of aggression towards humans before and had been around children.’
She claimed Morris cared ‘greatly’ for the dogs and is ‘deeply regretful and remorseful’ and extends his ‘deepest sympathy for the victim’.
Today, judge Sarah Mallett sentenced Morris to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also disqualified from keeping a dog for seven years.
‘The conditions in the house and the conditions in which the dogs were living and kept were deplorable,’ she said.
‘Dogs, nor people should be living in those conditions.’
The court heard Morris was caring for his mother who has mental health problems.
