A GERMAN Shepherd dog has been spared destruction after biting a courier who put his hand through a letterbox while delivering a parcel.

The incident took place at the home address of Paula Dobinson, 54, who at the time was in bed asleep after doing some shifts, West Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Pamela Fee, said the dog called Zeus, had been downstairs on September 20 when Andrew Neilsen arrived at about 2pm to deliver a parcel to the Workington property.

He placed the ‘floppy’ parcel through the letterbox. There was a draught excluder on the letterbox and Mr Neilsen’s hand had gone through the letterbox as well.

He felt a bite on his left index finger and saw there had been an injury. He had to push a piece of bone back into his finger.

Mr Neilsen then went to a nearby hairdressers and got a towel to wrap his finger in. He went home and called for an ambulance but went to hospital himself after being told it would be a three-hour wait.

The court heard Mr Neilsen had to have surgery on his finger on September 22 and was unable to work for a week. He reported the incident to police and the dog was seized from Dobinson’s address.

A victim impact statement read to the court said Mr Neilsen now goes out of his way to avoid a dog. He said the incident had affected his trust of all dogs.

Mr Neilsen said he didn’t believe the dog should be destroyed but a letterbox guard should be installed on the door and warning signs should be displayed around the property.

He also made a claim for compensation.

Ms Fee said the dog had been in kennels since being seized by police which had incurred a cost of £4,010.

During police interview, Dobinson said she had gone to bed and left the dog behind a gate but somebody else had then left the gate open.

Dobinson said she wasn’t aware of what had happened until she woke up. She said the dog would have barked and questioned why someone would put their hand through the letterbox.

Ms Fee said it was the police’s view that the dog should be destroyed because it poses a risk to the public.

John Cooper, defending, said: “It’s a difficult one. It used to be if a dog caused injury in its own address that was not an offence but that changed some time ago.

“Here, you have got a bizarre situation. It’s entry into an address but it’s fingertips.

“She had put in place a few steps. Zeus would normally be in the kitchen. There was a baby gate. Someone’s gone in the kitchen and left the gate open. It’s unfortunate.

“You have got a guilty plea at the first opportunity. She is working as a carer. She puts a lot back into the community.

“I don’t think there is any suggestion she is going to come back before the court.”  

Dobinson, of Harrington Road, Workington, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

Passing sentence, Sarah Bradbury, chair of the magistrates panel, said: “We are satisfied he [the dog] doesn’t constitute a danger to public safety. We believe it was an isolated incident. It was a breakdown in communication that the dog was able to roam free.

“We believe you are a fit and proper person to own a dog.”

Magistrates imposed a contingent destruction order on the dog with a number of conditions which include keeping him muzzled and on a lead when in public and safety measures must be installed to the letterbox of the property.

Dobinson was also ordered to pay a total of £1,000 in compensation to Mr Neilsen and £85 costs.