American Pit Bull owner from Bramley jailed after dog seriously injured pensioner in Yeadon Leeds Crown Court told

The owner of an American Pit Bull fighting dog which repeatedly bit a woman in her seventies during a horrific attack that left  her with life-changing  injuries  has been jailed for more than two-and-a-half-years.
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The dangerously out of control dog broke free from its lead as 23-year-old Daniel Cleary walked it in the Engine Fields area of Yeadon, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The trained fighting dog attacked and repeatedly bit the pensioner during an ordeal which lasted around half an hour from around 9.30am on August 27 2019.

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Judge Neil Clark formally commended five men who stepped in to help for their bravery after he jailed Cleary for 31 months and ordered that the dog be destroyed.

Daniel ClearyDaniel Cleary
Daniel Cleary

The woman, who had to have a blood transfusion in hospital, lost the middle finger on her left hand during the attack on Kirk Lane and she has lost full use of the hand.

The muscle on her upper right arm was damaged down to the bone and she had to undergo a skin graft on the arm.

She suffered a bite to her right calf and a large bite to her face, which needed stitches.

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The court heard Cleary was already banned from keeping animals following a previous conviction for ill treating an animal.

Five men from a nearby factory heard the woman's screams and rushed to the scene to find her laid in a puddle with the dog on top of her.

Two of the men were kicking the dog, but it would not free her from its jaws during the terrifying incident.

It bit one of the men and finally let go of the woman when one man hit it with a metal pole and it bit the pole instead.

It chased one of the men, who jumped over a wall to escape.

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Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, said Cleary then appeared at the scene and said he had been out walking the dog when it slipped its lead and said he had run away to get help.

Miss Pearson said the woman told police that she "loves dogs" and didn't want anything to happen to the dog that attacked her.

Cleary told police his girlfriend had given him the dog a week before the attack happened.

Cleary, of Melbourne Grove, Bramley, admitted having a dog which was dangerously out of control which then went on to cause injury.

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He also admitted breaching a court order in connection with being banned from keeping animals.

Rebecca Penfold, mitigating, said: "May I express the defendant's deep sorrow for what happened on that day."

Miss Penfold said Cleary had a difficult background and some mental health and alcohol problems.

Jailing Cleary for 31 months, Judge Clark told him: "The dog was exceptionally dangerous and exceptionally vicious.

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"You took a reckless chance in looking after a dog that had been trained for fighting."

Judge Clark formally commended the five men who helped the woman for their bravery.

Judge Clark said: "They were particularly brave going to her assistance in a situation which must have been terrifying for them.

"Without their assistance, who knows what would have happened."

Judge Clark ordered that the dog be destroyed.

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After the sentencing hearing, Detective Inspector James Entwistle, of Leeds District CID, said: “This was a truly appalling incident where the elderly victim went through an absolutely horrendous ordeal being mauled by this large and powerful dog while she was out for a walk.

“She suffered very serious and significant injuries that have required long-term medical treatment and has been left understandably psychologically traumatised.

“A number of nearby members of the public bravely went to her aid and managed to get the dog off her and I would like to pay tribute to the courage and community spirit they displayed during this incident.

“The lengthy prison term that Cleary has received should serve as a stark reminder to others of how seriously offences such as this will be treated, and we hope it will provide some level of reassurance to the victim who is having to live with the consequences of his irresponsible actions.”