Huge mastiff dog savaged female chimney sweep while she was working, leaving her in ‘unbearable’ pain with wounds ‘too large to be stitched’

A huge mastiff dog ravaged a female chimney sweep while she was at work, leaving her in ‘excruciating’ pain with wounds ‘too big to stitch’.

Three-year-old Cane Corso – called Hendrix – bit Katie Foster on the arms and legs in December 2022 while she was at work, the court heard.

Owner Glyn Davies had failed to close a kitchen door behind him when his dog jumped on the helpless woman and ‘grinded its teeth’ into her forearm.

The 60-year-old begged her not to report the incident as it would be ‘put down’, before later suggesting they pretend another dog had attacked her.

The Cane Corso – a mastiff breed descended from Molossian war dogs of ancient Rome – had previously bitten another person and had a ‘dog behavior contract’.

Katie Foster was bitten on the arms and legs by a three-year-old Cane Corso – named Hendrix – while she was at work in December 2022

Owner Glyn Davies (pictured outside court) had failed to close the kitchen door behind him when his dog lunged at the helpless woman and ‘snatched its teeth’ into her forearm

The Cane Corso (stock photo) – a mastiff breed descended from Molossian war dogs of ancient Rome – had previously bitten another person and entered into a ‘dog behavior contract’

After admitting one count of being in charge of a dog that got dangerously out of control and caused injury, Davies was given a suspended prison sentence but bowed his head when a judge ordered him to destroy his dog.

The sweep, who has left both physical and psychological scars because she is now ‘scared’ when she hears a dog barking behind a door, was also awarded £500 in compensation.

A Cane Corso has a muscular, stocky physique and stands up to 28 inches tall and weighs up to 55 kg. It can be used as a guard dog to protect livestock.

Prosecutor Lisa Bowles told Winchester Crown Court that the dog was already the subject of a dog behavior contract following a previous attack in May 2022.

The first victim went to police after being taken to hospital to ‘clean and bandage’ the wound after being bitten on the arm, the court heard.

Ms Bowles said under the terms of Winchester City Council the dog had to be on a leash when walked in public, wear a muzzle, be supervised by a responsible person and not remain in the care of young people under the 16 years.

The sweep, who has left both physical and psychological scars as she is now ‘scared’ when she hears a dog barking behind a door, was also awarded £500 in compensation.

Mrs Foster was working as a chimney sweep at Davies’ brother’s address in Winchester when the dog attacked

In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mrs Foster said she is now afraid of dogs because she had never been afraid before. Photos on her social media showed her previously being friendly to dogs

But just seven months after the dog behavior contract was issued, Hendrix attacked Ms Foster.

Mrs Bowles said: “The victim is Katie Foster, who works as a chimney sweep.

‘She was present at the address of the defendant’s brother [Winchester]. Mrs. Foster was sweeping the chimney in the living room and noticed a barking dog.

‘[Davies] walked into the kitchen and failed to close the door properly behind him.

‘The dog escaped and bit Mrs Foster on the leg and her two arms.

‘He told the dog he was in a world of trouble and said to Mrs Foster: ‘Please don’t hand my dog ​​in – he will be put down.’

The court heard the chimney sweep had bleeding stab wounds and required hospital treatment.

Ms Bowles said Davies attended a voluntary interview with police where he revealed the dog had originally been purchased for his daughter.

He admitted that the dog had bitten Mrs Foster and someone else before, so he attended a dog behavior session, but he could no longer afford anything.

The court heard he refused to hand Hendrix over to Hampshire Constabulary, but his pet was seized in March last year and remained in kennels.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mrs Foster said she is now afraid of dogs because she had never been afraid before.

A Cane Corso has a muscular, stocky physique and stands up to 28 inches tall and weighs up to 55 kg. It can be used as a guard dog to protect livestock (stock photo)

“I work in dozens of homes and many of my clients have dogs,” she said.

“Now I get scared when I hear a dog behind the front door.”

In mitigation, James Meredith said Davies, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, was not a “bad dog owner” because it was a temporary loss of attention.

He said Hendrix had a “good temperament” and was “loving” towards family members, adding his destruction would have a “devastating” effect.

However, an expert report was read to the court which said: ‘He is an extremely large and powerful dog.

‘Innate strong and territorial instincts have been amplified to a dangerous level.’

Addressing Davies, Recorder Richard Tutt said he had ‘failed’ to comply with the dog behavior contract and had been ‘significantly aggravated’ by his attempts to prevent authorities from finding out.

Ms Foster said she now fears when she hears a dog behind a customer’s front door

After admitting one charge of being in charge of a dog that got dangerously out of control and caused injury, Davies was given a suspended prison sentence but bowed his head when a judge at Winchester Crown Court was ordered to destroy his dog ( photo)

Passing judgment on the dog which had left ‘gaping’ wounds, he continued: ‘Mrs Foster heard a dog barking continuously through a door, was packing when you yourself returned to the address.

“She was talking to your partner when your dog ran into the living room, jumped on her leg, bit her left arm and then dug his teeth into her right forearm.

‘She describes that the breaking of the skin and the pain were so excruciating that she thought a bone had been broken; blood dripped

“In all the circumstances of this case, I am regretfully convinced that he poses a risk to public safety.

‘Despite [the dog behaviour contract]The dog then attacked Mrs Foster while she was working at the address, causing further injury and requiring treatment.

“Under all these circumstances, a conditional destruction order would not protect the public.”

He therefore ordered that the dog be destroyed upon expiry of the appeal process.

Davies was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation days, 40 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 compensation to Mrs Foster.