Sunderland man set dog on police after ex-partner put animal faeces in his bag

Colin Cook, 33, of Burnville Road South, near Sunderland city centre, shouted “Get them Daisy, bite them” – leading one of two animals to sink its teeth into PC Christopher Mills’ hand.

The animal also embedded its gnashers into his stab-proof vest for several seconds before Cook’s former girlfriend could call it off, a court heard.

His actions outside the woman’s Sunderland home on Friday, July 3, left the officer with a minor physical injury but psychologically scared, due to having to wait for infection test results.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard the incident kicked off after Cook found she had put dog faeces in a bag of goods he was removing from her home.

Cook avoided a prison term for his role in the attack, which was described by Deputy District Judge Paul Conlon as “serious”.

He was jailed for 18 weeks but had the sentence suspended for 24 months – and must pay the officer £150 compensation.

Prosecutor Grace Taylor said: “Officers were called to attend an address, following an incident involving the defendant and his ex-partner.

“Officers had cause to arrest the defendant and tried to get him in handcuffs but he struggled and they put him on the floor.

“He shouted at his ex-partner’s dogs, ‘Get them Daisy, bite them’. The dogs attacked. The officer describes both dogs as being aggressive.

“One of the dogs bit him between his thumb and finger, and it also latched on to his stab-proof vest. His ex-partner managed to get it off.”Paul McAlindon, defending Cook, who pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker, said: “When his belongings were checked, there was a bag of dog faeces inside it, put there by his ex-partner.

“The dogs aren’t his and he has no control over them, but he did shout for Daisy to bite the police officer.”

Judge Conlon also ordered Cook, who has seven previous convictions from 12 offences, including a GBH assault in 2013, to complete the Thinking Skills Programme.

He must also undergo 20 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service and pay £85 court costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

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