Owner of banned pit bull that savaged girl, 3, named for first time

Harris Vinten, of Thompson Avenue in Ormskirk, pleaded guilty to having a dog dangerously out of control
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


The owner of a vicious pit bull that savaged a three-year-old girl has appeared in court. Harris Vinten, 32, was due to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today, September 20, after pleading guilty to having a dog dangerously out of control.

However, the hearing was delayed as the court heard more information was needed before a sentence could be passed. The attack, which left the three-year-old with serious injuries, took place at Newtown Gardens, outside the Market Tavern in Kirkby just after 3.15pm on Saturday, September 2 last year. Merseyside police later confirmed the dog was a pit bull terrier - one of the breeds banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

READ MORE: Woman 'treated worse than a dog' by sex trafficker couple

READ MORE: Man, 24, arrested over violent disorder in Merseyside

Prosecutor Ian Criddle said it was still to be determined whether Vinten had purchased the vicious dog just one day before the attack took place. It was also not known who Vinten had bought the dog from. He also said there had been no contact with the family of the three-year-old girl since May 2024, and efforts would be made to reach them.

Adjourning the case to October 10, judge Ian Harris said: "There will come a stage where the defendant will have to be sentenced on the information the prosecution has. Mr Vinten will want to know exactly what will happen to him. But at the moment I cannot sentence him because I don't have sufficient information."

Vinten, of Thompson Avenue in Ormskirk, appeared in court in a grey and black T-shirt and blue jeans. As his case was adjourned, he asked the judge: "My mum's written a letter. Can I pass you it?". The judge told him to hand the note to his barrister.