Horror Staffordshire Bull Terrier attack leaves blood-soaked runner in hospital

Daily Record

03-05-2025

Thomas Townsend was walking Staffordshire Bull Terriers Tyson and Sandy in South Bank when they launched the attack.
A runner was rushed to hospital with horror injuries after being set upon by two "out of control" dogs in a brutal park attack.
Thomas Townsend was walking his two Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Tyson and Sandy in July last year when Tyson 'locked his jaw' onto a woman in a park in Middlesbrough.
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The horror incident unfolded as she was about to leave the area and looked up from her phone to see a dog barking at her then sink its teeth into her groin area.
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'I can't control them,' 46-year-old Townsend told the victim who was left with injuries requiring surgery at James Cook University Hospital.
Prosecutor Miss Nath told Teesside Magistrates ' Court that the dog had 'locked his jaw onto her' and as she was 'in so much pain' she began punching the dog with her hands.
While Townsend shouted at the dog, which had a collar and lead on, and pulled him off the victim, reports the Chronicle.
Ms Nath added that Sandy 'was almost touching her face' describing that she was '1cm away' and was trying to bite the woman. She had her knuckles near her eyes to protect herself, the court heard.
But Sandy, who also had a collar and leash on, bit the victim on her hand causing injury and she was left bleeding. The victim managed to push the dog away and believed Sandy 'ran away" while Townsend was 'still trying to control' Tyson.
The court heard how the victim went to a family friend's home near the park as blood was gushing from her leg and she was in "unbearable pain".
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She was rushed to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and was admitted for surgery. The victim fainted whilst in the urgent treatment centre and suffered a panic attack, the court heard.
She received stitches to her wounds which included a bite mark to her groin alongside a number of injuries to her left hand. Townsend was interviewed by police and when asked if the dogs attacked the victim he gave a 'no comment' response. He denied that Sandy had launched an attack.
Ms Nath outlined that Townsend had owned the dogs for four years but added that he "hadn't trained them to be aggressive but the previous owners hadn't treated them well".
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The Crown Prosecution Service instructed that the dog be assessed and it was ruled that Sandy is 'safe'.
The report was ' shocking ' to district judge Helen Cousins, as she said she was 'troubled' by the report due to the 'level of aggression shown by Sandy and the injuries caused".
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The court also heard that Tyson had been destroyed which Townsend agreed to.
Judge Cousins told Townsend that he made the choice to walk both dogs at the same time despite 'knowing there was a problem', referencing the fact that one dog was muzzled. The judge decided that the crimes crossed the custody threshold and sentenced Townsend to four months in prison.
However, she suspended the jail time for 18 months. However, due to the hand injuries that were 'deep enough for surgery', she made a contingent destruction order for Sandy meaning that she will 'not be destroyed at this time'.
Judge Cousins ruled that the dog must be muzzled and on a lead at all times in public places and must never be walked with another dog. Townsend must also complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 120 hours of unpaid work and pay the victim £300 compensation.
'That is not reflective of what I think the injuries are worth, I have to be practical in what can be paid,' the judge added, clarifying that the compensation must be paid before money is taken from his fines account.