XL Bully owner 'not bothered' as it savaged 12-year-old girl's arm while dad wrestled dog

Justin Allison, from Blaenau Gwent in southeast Wales, 'wouldn't do anything' and watched on as his XL Bully named Rocco attacked a 12-year-old girl in a park, a court heard

The owner of an XL Bully appeared not to be "bothered" as his banned dog savaged a 12-year-old girl.

Justin Allison, from Blaenau Gwent in southeast Wales, admitted to multiple offences following the horrific dog attack in the village of Nantyglo on October 7. The court heard the 37-year-old "wouldn't do anything" and simply stood by as his dog raced towards the girl and sunk its teeth into her arm.

Prosecutor Lisa Lewis told Newport Magistrates' Court that the girl had been walking with her dad when she heard shouting and saw the off-the-lead dog quickly approaching. The XL Bully "reached her in seconds" and began growling at her, causing her to run towards her dad in fear.

The dog, named Rocco, jumped on the girl's back and as she covered her head it latched onto her arm. Prosecutor Lisa Lewis told Newport Magistrates' Court: "It was on her arm for a matter of seconds. The next thing she could remember was her dad on top of the dog, wrestling it. She has then walked into the middle of the road to shout for help."

Allison then "walked over but didn't come close and wouldn't do anything", and Ms Lewis said the girl "described him as not being bothered to help her dad while she was shouting in the middle of the road". "She managed to push her dad in the direction of the owner and he managed to put a lead on the dog," she added.

The owner, 37-year-old Allison, told the girl and her dad that if anyone wanted him he would be at his home nearby. The prosecutor continued: "He did not offer any assistance at all. The girl's mum arrived and had a go at the defendant, asking why there was no muzzle on the dog. The dog then tried to go for her mum, but thankfully the defendant told the muam to go away and pulled the dog back."

The girl was taken to the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran and needed surgery to repair tendons in her arm. Ms Lewis said pictures showed a "horrific" arm injury where bone was exposed, and she also suffered nasty cuts to her back. The court heard the girl was healing well physically but the psychological impact was not yet clear. Her dad was not hurt.

Allison did not own an exemption certificate for an XL Bully, which is now required to own the restricted breed in England and Wales. He surrendered the dog which was then put down. When police searched Allison's home they found a banned butterfly knife.

Allison admitted being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control causing injury, possessing a dangerous dog, and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place. He will be sentenced in January.

Magistrates also handed him a fine and driving ban over a separate incident in which Allison was caught drug-driving in Brynmawr. He was apprehended by a police officer in an Asda supermarket after he spotted him speeding in the car park. A test revealed Allison had 240 micrograms of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine per litre of blood, when the legal limit for driving is 50 micrograms. He pleaded guilty to drug driving with no licence or insurance.

Allison, who is single and unemployed, has depression and anxiety, the court heard. He lives with his grandparents and receives £248 per fortnight in benefits. The magistrates took into account his early guilty plea, his low means and his previous convictions. They banned him from driving for 16 months and imposed a £120 fine, £48 victim services surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs which Allison is to pay at a rate of £20 pounds a month.