Let off for dog owner who allowed mutt to bite woman

A dog owner who allowed his snarling mutt to sink its fangs into a woman in a ‘dangerous and nasty’ attack was spared jail.

Ryan Sanzone, 34, left the large black-and-white mongrel in his rear garden which was unfenced on one side, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

As Felakumi Wusu was walking passed the back garden of ‘unkempt’ property in Mangold Way, Erith, the animal started snarling – and she feared for her safety.

But instead of attacking her, the dog lunged towards a passerby, Nuvie Otobrisie, who saw it acting in a threatening way and gripped her with its powerful jaws.

Prosecutor Ranesha Wanigasinghe said the attack took place at around 730am on October 1.

Ms Wusu ‘observed a large black and white dog at the property,’ the prosecutor said, adding ‘the dog ran towards her barking aggressively.

‘She became frightened and shouted for help.’

When Ms Otobrisie arrived, the dog pounced on her.

‘The dog was growling aggressively and biting her right hand and wrist,’ Ms Wanigasinghe said.

‘She described the dog holding her arm and dragging her along the street before releasing.’

‘The dog eventually returned to the address.’

The victim was left with three puncture wounds in her hand and wrist.

‘The defendant emerged from the property and rather than offer assistance or ask about her welfare he ignored her and walked away.’

The victim was treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich and received treatment for tetanus.

The prosecutor said it was ‘not a momentary loss of control’ as the dog was kept in an ‘insecure garden and accessed the footpath and bit a member of the public on her way to work.’

Sanzon has three convictions for five offences between 2012 and 2016 including a conviction for dangerous driving and possession of cannabis.

In the driving conviction, Sanzone had swerved onto the wrong side of the road while being chased by police at 80mph and crashed into an Aston Martin on the streets of Dartford, according to news reports.

James Conroy, defending, said his client was remorseful and had ADHD and dyslexia.

He was currently signed off work on mental health grounds.

Sanzone pleaded guilty to one count of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control.

Sentencing, the judge Recorder Maryam Sayed KC said as the whereabouts of the dog are not known it was not possible to order its destruction.

She said: ‘This was in any view a horrible offence,’ adding ‘Your garden had no fence along one side and the dog could easily escape.’

Instead of helping the victim, Sanzone came out of his house five minutes after the attack, and ran ‘in the direction of Abbey Wood,’ the judge said.

Police officers attending his address found no carpet or flooring, a knife in his porch and ‘items scattered on the floor’. The judge added that two American Bully dogs were also removed from the property.

The judge sentenced Sanzone to 18 weeks custody suspended for three years, during which time he would be prohibited from owning a dog. He must also pay £500 compensation and a further victim surcharge and carry out 100 hours unpaid work.

The judge told Sanzone, of Mangold Way, and who has a large tattoo of a lion on his left hand: ‘This attack was nasty and dangerous and I’m hoping you have learnt from this.’
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