Jail for woman whose dog bit police officer during commotion

Yahoo

09-08-2025

A BRAMPTON woman who failed to intervene as her dog attacked the police officer who was trying to detain her partner has been jailed.
Melissa Bell, 36, who wept and apologised as she stood in the dock of Carlisle's Rickergate court, had earlier pleaded guilty to owning a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control, and obstructing a police officer.
Prosecutor George Shelley described what happened.
The female police constable who was injured had been sent to the defendant's Brampton home on May 6 after neighbours reported an altercation, during which a man – Bell's partner – was seen shouting from a window.
It was after the officer went into the property and tried to arrest and handcuff the man that Bell put herself between her partner and the constable.
'She was preventing the officer from carrying out her duties,' said Mr Shelley. 'This lasted for several seconds and at one point the defendant pushed the male behind her so the officer could not get to him.
'There was a greyhound in the property, and, during the commotion, it bit the officer to the leg. The defendant continued to try to obstruct the officer and made no attempt to get the dog under control.
'The dog bit the officer a second time, after which the constable left the property.' The officer then called for support from colleagues.
In her victim statement, the officer said what happened that day has had a lasting impact on her. She did not, she said, expect while doing her job, serving the community, to be confronted by an aggressive and volatile individual.
She had been physically attacked by both the suspect and the dog, which she felt was used as a weapon. As a result she suffered physical pain, and needed a precautionary course of antibiotics and a tetanus injection.
'The psychological impact has been significant,' said the officer.
'Since the assault, I have found myself replaying the incident in my mind and it has affected my confidence in dealing with volatile individuals, particularly when I am working alone…
'This has left me feeling vulnerable.'
Chris Toms, defending, said that the behaviour of the defendant's partner – who was yet to be dealt with in a court – was his responsibility. Bell had been heavily intoxicated and had no recollection of the incident.
'She accepts that she would have tried to put herself between the officer and her partner, but there is no allegation of violence towards the officer.
"It was an offence of obstructing the officer.'
Quoting from a dog expert's report about the greyhound, Mr Toms said he had concluded the greyhound had bitten the officer in a nervous attempt to defend its owner and it did not pose a danger to the public.
'She is struggling terribly,' said the lawyer, pointing out that Bell, of Moatside, Brampton, committed the offence while alcoholic, though she has since sought help from Recovery Steps.
'She's trying her best,' said Mr Toms, pointing out that Bell had avoided alcohol for days at a time.
Weeping as she listened to the case outline, Bell apologised to the injured officer, and said that the dog had originally belonged to her brother, who died two years ago.
Magistrates jailed the defendant for four months.
They imposed a control order on the dog, which means it must be kept muzzled and on a lead whenever it is taken into a public place.
When released, Bell must pay compensation of £300 to the injured officer, £85 costs, and a £154 victim surcharge. She will not, however, had to pay the dog's kennelling costs, assessed to be £3,054.