Birmingham schoolgirl who was mauled by XL Bully says 'I'm scared to walk to the shops alone now'

An 11-year-old girl who was attacked by a vicious 'XL Bully' said she thought it was going to kill her. The child was repeatedly bitten by 'Tyson' after he snapped his own collar and got loose in Bordesley Green in September last year.

Members of the public managed to help the girl escape and retreat into a nearby shop but the dog then chased after and mauled hero citizens Numaan Ahmed and Yousef Ahmadzai on a petrol forecourt. CCTV and camera phone footage captured the terrifying scenes.

Farhat Ajaz, aged 62, who owned Tyson received a suspended prison sentence on Friday, November 15. Over the weekend it emerged there had been 13 reported incidents involving dangerous dogs in Yorkshire in 48 hours.

READ MORE: Owner of 'XL Bully' that mauled girl, 11, spared jail amid dark criminal past

In a statement the girl who was bitten by Tyson said: "I felt so terrified when the dog was biting me. I didn't know where it was going to bite me next.

"I was scared it was going to kill me. It was so strong it pulled me to the floor. I was shouting and screaming for help. I felt like I was going to faint.

"The dog bit me on my left arm and shoulder. There was a lot of blood. I didn't know what was going to happen to me.

"I have scars on my arm and shoulder where the dog bit me. When I look at them it reminds me of everything that happened that day."

She added she was already fearful of dogs before the incident and now she was even more scared of them. The girl continued: "I'm really scared when I see dogs in public now. I'm scared to walk to the shops alone now.

"My mom and dad were so worried about me. They thought I was dying."

Mr Ahmadzai also stated that the attack had 'severely' impacted him psychologically and left him scared of dogs. Ajaz had been sitting at a bus stop on Bordesley Green Road on September 9 when Tyson wrestled himself free and ran after the 11-year-old girl who had just walked passed them.

Brumwish 2024 - buy a gift for a child in need

BrumWish 2024 is Birmingham Live's festive drive to get thousands of gifts to children and young people across our city - among them the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care, kids who are poorly or struggling, and kids who have little.

There are THREE simple ways to help.

1. Buy a new gift from the Brumwish 2024 Amazon giftlist. In just a click your donation will be whizzing its way to our volunteers at Edgbaston Stadium.
2. Donate money to the appeal fund hosted by Thrive Together Birmingham - this will help pay for gifts for kids with specialist needs or specific wishes.
3. Buy a gift and, even better, rope in friends, neighbours and workmates to do the same, then drop off your pressies at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, B5 7QU on Friday 6th December, 10am - 3pm; Saturday 7th December, 10am - 1pm; or Monday 9th December, 10am - 1pm. Volunteers will be there to help you. Please don't wrap your gifts. You can also drop off by arrangement until Monday 16th December - contact Louise on 07469 979286.

Thanks to our partnership with #Toys4Birmingham, every single gift will find a good home in the loving care of a child living in B&Bs or hotels, hostels or refuges, children receiving support from specialist organisations and charities, and families being supported by children's centres and charities around the city.

Making up the Brumwish and Toys4Birmingham gang are Thrive Together Birmingham, Birmingham Playcare Network, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation (the charitable arm of Warwickshire County Cricket Club), Birmingham Forward Steps and BirminghamLive/Birmingham Mail.

Thank you to Amazon UK and the amazing team at the Sutton Coldfield depot for their support.

After the attacks he managed to apply his muzzle as police attended the scene. Ajaz later told police people had been 'winding up' his dog who ''won't let anybody come near me to abuse me'.

Footage showed the 11-year-old girl nervously tried to avoid Tyson by walking as close to the building line away from him as she could. The dog has since been destroyed.

It is suspected Tyson was an XL Bully but prosecutors said they could not confirm the breed 'conclusively' because it was difficult to categorise. But he would not have been a prohibited dog at the time as the legislation only came into effect this year.

Ajaz, from Bordesley Close, has previously served 25 years in prison as part of a life sentence although the details of the crime, which he committed aged 15, were not disclosed. He admitted three charges of being an owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control.

He also pleaded guilty to harassing his ex partner in a completely separate case from 2022. Ajaz was handed a two-year sentence which was suspended for two years, mainly due to the fact he has a number of serious health problems including issues with his heart and lungs. He was also banned from keeping dogs for life.

Judge Heidi Kubik KC said: "I make it perfectly clear were you a young man in good health you would be going immediately to prison today. But that's not the position as far as you are concerned."

She added: "Bearing in mind your guilty pleas and health conditions you now suffer I take the view it would not be in the interest of justice to send you immediately to custody today."