Horror attack on man and woman as dangerous dog named Boss 'lets himself out' of kitchen

A 'dangerous' dog owner whose pet launched a horror attack on two police officers has been jailed - and handed a ten-year punishment for her crime. Francis Burton, owner of a large Presa Canario dog named Boss, was banned from owning a dog for a decade after the incident.

The officers, who had come to arrest 53-year-old Burton, were bitten as the three-year-old dog came hurtling around the back of a property. Boss, who Burton had from a puppy, will now be destroyed after claims he "let himself out" of the kitchen to attack the pair.

Burton, who claimed she tried training the dog but it had a "mind of its own", was sentenced for two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury at Warwick Crown Court on May 15. She was also disqualified from owning a dog for a decade and will pay £187 victim surcharge.

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The Presa Canario was seized and is subject to a destruction order, Warwickshire Police said. PC Wheeler added: “Big dogs need careful and constant respect and attention to prevent them from becoming dangerous, attention which in this case was sadly not provided by Burton.

“The injuries sustained by our officers here were significant, but we’re thankful they weren’t much worse. Twelve months in prison is good, and we’re reassured that for at least ten years Burton will not be able to ruin the chances of any other dogs for a happy life.”

The incident, on August 30 last year, began when two officers attended Kingsley Crescent in Bulkington to attempt the arrest of Burton, of Broad Close, Bulkington. She was wanted on warrant for failing to appear in court for assaulting a police officer in a separate incident.

On arrival, a large dog was barking at the officers from behind the front door. They were met by Adrian Harcourt, 71 of Kingsley Crescent in Bulkington, who asked to meet them around the side entrance to the house to avoid the dog.

The officers moved round to the side gate, where they asked Harcourt whether the dog was secure, to which he replied “yes”. They asked who the dog belonged to, and he replied “Francis”.

Officers then mentioned they were looking for Francis Burton, at which point, a "large Presa Canario named Boss hurtled round the rear of the property towards the two officers and bit one on her right hip, pulling her equipment from her belt and leaving bruising," police said.

"Boss then attacked the second officer, biting his right arm and clamping down for approximately five seconds, leading to four puncture wounds needing multiple stitches in each during immediate hospital treatment. Harcourt attempted to get the dog under control and received a bite to his right wrist area. Once the dog was restrained, the officers left the property and remained in the vicinity."

Police reattended shortly afterwards and arrested Burton. During interview, Burton confirmed the dog was hers – she had the dog since he was 10 weeks old, and he was now three years old.

Previously, Burton had taken the dog to two obedience training classes but said this "did not work as the dog had a mind of his own," police added. Burton claimed the dog was being kept in the kitchen at the time of the officers’ arrival and must have opened the door to let himself out.

Harcourt was also sentenced for two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury in Coventry Magistrates Court on April 30. He received a community order involving 20 days of rehabilitation activities, 80 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months, ordered to pay £550 worth of compensation, and an additional £500 of kennel costs for the dog.

**Burton was found guilty of assaulting a police officer in a separate incident in Newtown, Wales and sentenced to 18 weeks in prison at Coventry Magistrates Court on August 31.