Girl, 3, bitten in face by pit bull in savage mauling outside pub as owner jailed

Harris Vinten
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A dog owner has been jailed after his pitbull savagely attacked a three-year-old girl outside a pub.

Harris Vinten's dog left her with serious facial injuries and needing urgent treatment at hospital. The 32-year-old, from Ormskirk, was arrested at the scene outside the Market Tavern Pub, on Newton Gardens in Kirkby, on September 2 last year.

He was subsequently charged with the offence and the dog was seized and humanely destroyed with the consent of the owner. Vinten pleaded guilty to being the owner and person in charge of the dog, which was dangerously out of control causing injury.

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He was jailed on, Thursday, October 10, for 16 months at Liverpool Crown Court. Vinten, of Thompson Avenue in Ormskirk, was also given a four-year ban on owning dogs

Detective Constable Beth Flintham, who was the officer in charge of this case, said: "This was a horrific attack on a young girl, who suffered significant injuries to her face and required hospital treatment. Thankfully we were able to arrest Vinten at the scene and seized the dog, which was later established to be a pit bull, which is a banned breed.

"In this country, it’s against the law to own certain types of dogs, which includes pit bulls. We can only hope that this case gives a warning to dog owners, regardless of their breed of dog, about the importance of keeping their pets under control in public places.

"We will act on all information provided on suspected irresponsible dog ownership. Failing to keep your dog under control can lead to the worst outcome imaginable."

Call 999 if a dog is posing an immediate threat to the safety of the public, or pass other information via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also report other concerns about dogs via your local authority.

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