A THUG who ordered his dog to attack a shop assistant bragged on Facebook that he had walked free from court – despite his pet being sentenced to death.
Jobless Jessiah Johnson told his terrier Tia to bite the assistant at the store in St Thomas Road, Derby, and it hung on to the 17-year-old's leg before Johnson's girlfriend called it off.
Magistrates gave the defendant a suspended sentence for the attack, but ordered the destruction of the dog, described in court as a "pit bull or Staffordshire" breed.
Johnson posted a photograph of himself leaving court on his Facebook page, gloating: "I was lucky today."
Tia will be destroyed within 21 days unless Johnson appeals, which the court was told he does not intend to do.
The story has sparked a wave of condemnation from dog lovers.
Mo Lakin, a canine behaviour expert from the Dog Father Training School, in Egginton, said: "This person has used their dog as a weapon – why would the dog be put down? It was following orders.
"To have been trained to attack, or bite, and then carry out the instruction, is the sign of a very well controlled dog, albeit totally in the wrong hands.
"I would have expected the magistrates to have sought expert opinion on the dog's temperament.
"We have had many 'people aggressive' dogs through the training school and, although it takes a good amount of time, the dog can – most times – be de-sensitised to the situation it was put into by its owner or previous experiences."
Georgie Gilbert, from Derby Animal Rights, said: "It is heartbreaking that some owners just don't care enough to attempt to prove otherwise. It's a classic case of a dog who is willing to please – Staffies, especially so – falling into the wrong hands."
Claire Murray, from Skyes the Limit Dog Services, in Breaston, said: "This is an awful story. It doesn't matter what breed it is, they are all dogs and all they want is calm, assertive leadership, just as they would get if they lived as a stray or wild dog."
And Lin Rawson, from Loose Leads training school, said: "There's no such thing as a bad Staffy – it's a bad owner."
Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court was told Tia bit the victim after Johnson aggressively shouted: "Get him."
The assistant needed hospital treatment for the thigh injury – with the dog hanging on for just under a minute before Johnson's girlfriend called it off, magistrates heard.
Alison Wright, prosecuting, said Johnson and a girl went into the shop although he was banned. The dog had no collar or lead. Johnson asked the worker: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
He was reminded of the ban and the worker said: "I am sorry I can't serve you." Johnson swept items off the counter and Miss Wright added: "He shouted loudly and aggressively 'get him!' The dog lifted its front legs and bit."
The court was told Tia also bit a police officer who searched Johnson on Hastings Street, Derby, on October 14. The officer was bit in the thigh.
Sixteen weeks' custody, suspended for two years, was imposed on Johnson, 22, of Portland Street, Derby. Johnson denied setting the dog on the worker but was convicted after a trial of having a dangerous dog out of control.
He admitted obstructing police and two counts of threatening behaviour. Johnson was ordered to pay £150 compensation to the shop worker and the police officer, as well as £50 to a former girlfriend he pushed in the street.
Asif Munir, mitigating, said Johnson had kept out of trouble in the seven months since the last incident. He acts as volunteer handyman and caretaker in the block where he lives.
