XL bully owner jailed after dog clamps jaws onto police officer’s leg causing severe injuries in savage mauling

A dog owner has been jailed after his XL bully savaged a police officer in Leicestershire, leaving wounds that required surgery.

Aden Hollyoake, 33, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison at Leicester Crown Court for offences including keeping an illegal pit bull at the property.

His partner Shanell Lawrence, 26, received a 12-month community order for her role in the incident, which occurred at their home in Ibstock on October 26, 2023.

Shocking bodycam footage shows the moment the XL bully clamped its jaws onto the officer’s inner thigh for nearly a minute.

Two officers had attended the address on Lewis Close to speak with Hollyoake, who was not home at the time.

Lawrence answered the door and told the officers they were “fine to come inside,” despite having dogs in the kitchen.

Less than a minute after entering the property, the XL bully pushed open the kitchen door and charged through the lounge towards one of the officers.

The second officer attempted to stop the attack by using Captor incapacitant spray, but this proved unsuccessful.

The officer was heard screaming in pain as the dog maintained its grip on his leg for almost a minute.

“Quick I need an ambulance, close that door now,” one officer radioed for help after they managed to escape through the front door.

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The injured officer was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery to repair and stitch four bite wounds to his leg.

His colleague sustained a small laceration to his finger during the incident.

Nearby officers had rushed to the scene to provide immediate first aid before the wounded officer was transported to hospital.

Following the attack, both dogs were removed from the property, including the XL bully and a pit bull terrier that was found crated in the kitchen.

Tests confirmed the second dog was a pit bull, which is banned under UK law. Both animals remain in secure kennels.

During police interviews, Lawrence claimed the dog only attacked because the officers were strangers in the house.

Hollyoake denied his XL bully was dangerous and claimed he thought the pit bull was another XL bully.

While the XL bully had been legally registered and microchipped, Hollyoake had owned the illegal pit bull for over a year without proper documentation.

Detective Constable James Highton, who investigated the case, said: “Officers have a right that every day they come to work and carry out their duties safely and to not be faced with such an attack.”

The officer had to take a month off work to recover and has been left wary of larger dogs, particularly when entering homes.

“This could easily have been avoided if Lawrence had secured the dog properly or even suggested to speak to officers outside the address,” DC Highton said.

“Her failure to do so left this officer with a significant injury which could have been much worse, as we have seen with a number of recent dog attacks across the country.”