A 23-year-old man has been banned from owning dogs for five years after his Bull Terrier-type dog mauled two people within 24 hours in St Paul’s Cray, southeast London.
Charlie Hull, of Longbury Drive, appeared in court where he admitted to being the owner and person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. He was handed a four-month suspended sentence and the five-year dog ownership ban.
First Attack: Delivery Driver Mauled
The first incident occurred on May 11, when a Sainsbury’s delivery driver was attacked by Hull’s dog Monty in Longbury Drive.
According to a police statement read in court by prosecutor Edward Kalber, the driver had just finished a delivery when the dog ran at him barking.
“I heard a dog barking and saw it running towards us,” the victim recalled. He tried to kick the dog away, but it bit the inside of his thigh, causing him to fall. The attack continued as he lay on the ground, suffering five cuts to his legs.
Hull eventually regained control of the animal, and the victim sought treatment at Princess Royal Hospital.
Second Attack: Shopper Bitten Outside Co-op
Less than a day later, on May 12, the same dog attacked another man outside the Co-op on Cotmandene Crescent.
Hull’s pregnant partner was holding the dog on a lead while Hull was inside the shop. As a man exited the store, Monty broke free and charged, howling and scratching the man before biting his leg.
Emergency services were called and the man was taken to Princess Royal Hospital.
Previous Offences
Hull has a history of offending, with nine previous convictions for 24 offences, including possession of a knife and conspiracy to commit burglary in 2020. However, he told magistrates that he had turned his life around and had not been arrested for five years prior to this incident.
Court Outcome
The court imposed a suspended four-month prison term, along with the five-year disqualification from owning dogs. The court acknowledged Hull’s recent record of good behaviour but cited the serious risk posed by the uncontrolled dog in the decision.
