Owner jailed for pit bull attacks

Cameron Mains' dog, Budweiser, ripped the skin from one man's hand, causing lasting nerve damage, a court heard.

Mains admitted owning a dog dangerously out of control in a public place and to three counts of being the owner of a dog which caused injury.

Mains, 39, of Weymouth, Dorset, was banned from owning a dog for five years and Budweiser will be killed.

"You behaved with total irresponsibility with regard to other people"
Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC

Dorchester Crown Court heard on Thursday the unemployed man will serve half the sentence before being released on licence.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark, QC, told said: "I think a message has to go out that allowing a dangerous dog to roam freely and cause injury, fear and distress is something which the court will not tolerate.

"You behaved with total irresponsibility with regard to other people.

"You made no serious effort to keep it under control."

The court heard in one incident, Budweiser had Delena Heslop's shih tzu dog, Frankie, in his mouth, damaging its ear.

Main's dog also bit Ms Heslop's arm as she tried to protect her pet on 13 May last year.

However, the worst attack came when Bruce Grahamslaw witnessed Budweiser "race towards" his two black Labradors on 5 September last year, Paul Hester, prosecuting, said.

Mains' friend Delvin Parkin, 28, also from Weymouth, was walking Budweiser at the time and had let him loose, the court heard.

'Lasting nerve damage'

Mr Grahamslaw grabbed the youngest Labrador by the collar and tried to stand in the way, when Budweiser ripped the skin from his hand.

It then took a number of people to pull the dog off one of the Labradors, which had been bitten on the face.

Mr Grahamslaw went to hospital for specialist treatment after the attack, which left his tendons exposed and caused lasting nerve damage.

The court heard he can no longer feel his fingers or play his guitar.

"He has suffered an injury which may well endure for the rest of his life if not for a considerable period of time," said Judge Clark.

When interviewed by police, Mains "promised" to prevent further attacks.

But on 20 November, Budweiser grabbed a Yorkshire terrier - which was being walked by a 10-year-old boy - by its head and threw it in to a bush.

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