Dog attack leaves girl, 7, with ‘appalling injuries’ as owner is convicted

A seven-year-old girl has been left with horrific physical and mental scars after she was savagely mauled by pit bull terrier-type dogs at a cricket club in Greater Manchester.

Robert Parsons, 27, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court following the attack at Micklehurst Cricket Club in Mossley last October.

The court heard how the young victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered “appalling injuries” and “mental trauma and terror” during the incident.

At the cricket club, two dogs – Reggie and Barney – were being walked by Parsons and his partner around the cricket club’s boundary when one without a lead ran towards the girl, knocked her over and jumped at her.

Although Parsons rushed to help, the dog knocked the girl down again which was swiftly followed by the second dog slipping its lead to join the attack, biting the girl’s leg.

The girl’s father intervened by putting his full weight on the dog and grabbing its neck, while Parsons also tried to help free the man’s daughter.

After being carried inside the club, paramedics and an air ambulance were called to the scene.

The girl was rushed to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where she underwent four hours of plastic surgery, after suffering “several substantial” leg wounds.

Her injuries penetrated through skin and muscle, leaving her unable to walk.

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With the victim only recently completing physiotherapy, prosecutors told the court she will have permanent scarring from the attack, while doctors have suggested that she might need more skin grafts.

The young girl, who previously loved animals, is now terrified of dogs and has nightmares about running away.

Speaking to the court, the victim’s mother said: “Our little girl, through no fault of her own, was hurt. All she did was walk outside with her dad. She used to be such an animal lover and loved all dogs.

“I now keep thinking to myself, when will she be okay? When will she be back to normal? The incident has turned our lives upside down.”

The court heard the young girl now believes the attack was her fault.

Parsons, of Knott Hill Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, pleaded guilty to two counts of being an owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury and two counts of possessing a fighting dog.

He received a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 170 hours of unpaid work. The court ordered him to pay £3,000 in compensation to the victim.

Defence lawyer Simran Garcha told the court: “He is overwhelmed with guilt and cannot apologise to the family enough. The guilt and the regret has been eating away at him.”

The court heard Parsons had the dogs euthanised in March.

Judge Tina Landale noted that while Parsons hadn’t realised they were pitbull-types, “their power and size was obvious.”