MAGISTRATES have spared the life of a west Cumbrian woman’s pet French bulldog after it injured two people while in a state of “over-excitement”.

The life of Pauline Wilson’s beloved pet had been hanging in the balance ever since the pensioner was convicted of two charges of being the owner of a dog which caused injury while “dangerously out of control” in a public place.

Wilson, 68, from Whitestiles, Seaton, admitted both offences. In June last year, when her dog 'Jimmy' injured two people at the Todhills Service Station on the M6 north of Carlisle, he was a 10-month-old puppy.

One woman suffered scratches to her arm; and a second person also suffered scratches, cuts and bruising.

The case was brought back before magistrates for a decision on whether Jimmy would have to be destroyed – or whether he can be allowed to live provided certain conditions are imposed to ensure he poses no danger.

The court had to be satisifed that those measures ensure the dog does mot pose a danger to the public.

Pam Ward, for the prosecution, told Carlisle’s Rickergate court that a reviewing lawyer had read an expert’s report on Jimmy and agreed that the suggested conditions would be enough to ensure public safety.

Those conditions – part of a “contingent destruction order – were listed in court as follows:

  • That Jimmy can only be taken for walks by a person aged 16 or over.
  • That Jimmy must be muzzled and in a harness when in any public place.
  • And that Jimmy must be put into a secure kennel or crate if ever a stranger visits his Workington home.

Mrs Ward said it was accepted that Jimmy was a a puppy when - in an 'over excited' state - he had injured the two women and that there were no dog training classes available a the time due to the pandemic.

The prosecutor said that one of the two victims had said she would prefer to see the dog muzzled and trained. Chris Toms, for the defendant, urged magistrates to apply the order as suggested.

Approving that contingent destruction order – which means Jimmy will not be destroyed provided the conditions of the order are met – presiding magistrate Keith Southward told Wilson: “This must have been a hard time, going through all this.”

He added: “I hope you have many years of enjoyment with your dog.”

As she left the court, Wilson told Mr Southward: “You’ve made my day.”

The original sentencing hearing heard that Wilson - a woman who has no previous convictions - readily admitted she was the owner of Jimmy and that she was in charge of him on the day involved.

Deputy District Judge Timothy Gascoyne sentenced the pensioner to a two-month jail term but he suspended the sentence for a year. She told the court that Jimmy is now routinely muzzled when in public to ensure there is no repeat.