A man from south London has pleaded guilty in connection with a vicious XL Bully dog attack in Brighton that resulted in the death of a small dog and injuries to its owner.
Dean Bryce, 52, of Penge Road, South Norwood, appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 13, where he admitted being in charge of two dangerously out-of-control dogs that injured a woman.
The incident occurred on April 13, 2023, in Mackie Avenue, Patcham, when a woman walking her poodle-type dog was attacked by two XL Bullies. Witnesses described the horrifying moment the dogs escaped from an alleyway and launched a brutal and sustained attack.
One eyewitness told UKNIP
“It immediately grabbed her dog and shook it. She desperately tried to get it off… After a minute, which felt like forever, a man came out and tried to remove the dog.
It was horrendous — there was blood everywhere. Then another, larger dog appeared and also attacked. He couldn’t remove it. The small dog looked like a rag on the floor, not a dog anymore.”
Despite desperate efforts to stop the attack, the small dog was killed, and the woman suffered hand injuries while trying to intervene.
Police were called to the scene, but the dogs and their handler had already left. Witnesses remained and gave statements. The woman’s injuries were later confirmed to be non-life-threatening, but the emotional impact was described as significant.
Bryce is due to be sentenced on May 30, following the preparation of a pre-sentence report. The court will consider the severity of the offence and the future handling or possible destruction of the dogs.
The case has reignited public concerns over the ownership and control of XL Bully-type dogs, especially following recent legislative changes in the UK that place restrictions on certain breeds.
