MAN IN COURT OVER STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER ATTACK IN RICHMOND PARK
A Staffordshire bull terrier has been destroyed and its owner ordered to pay nearly £4000 in compensation after a vicious attack on a seven month old puppy in Richmond Park, Royal Parks police revealed today.
The owner, named by police as Mr John Schmidt-Barraud, aged 47 from Plaistow, Sussex, was sentenced at Willesden Magistrates Court where he was ordered to pay £3781 in compensation, ordered to complete 140 hours of community service and prohibited from owning or caring for any animals for a period of 12 months.
A destruction order was also made for the dog.
On 26th June this year the police responded to an incident at Broomfield Hill car park in Richmond Park involving a dog attack on a seven-month-old puppy, resulting in puncture wounds to the puppy’s chest.
During the altercation, three individuals sustained injuries while attempting to separate the two dogs.
The injured puppy was promptly taken to a vet, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier involved in the incident was seized by Police.
Mr. Schmidt-Barraud, the owner of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was subsequently interviewed regarding the matter.
During the course of the police investigation, it was revealed that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier had previously attacked another dog in Plaistow, Sussex, in May.
As a result the Royal Parks police took over the Sussex investigation and charged Mr. Schmidt-Barraud with two offences:
1. Owner/Person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control – no injury
2. Owner/Person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury (Richmond Park offence)