Violent teen attacked police dog with a shovel before swinging it at officer
A violent drunken teenager viciously attacked a police dog with a shovel during a frightening confrontation inside a house before angrily swinging the shovel towards the dog handler's head, causing a nasty cut on his arm.
The dog handler lost so much blood during the attack that he lost consciousness. Troublemaker Keane Pyzer had earlier refused to pay a taxi driver and he threatened the man with the garden spade before damaging his car.
The taxi driver, police officer and police dog were all providing a valuable public service to the community and needed to be protected, Hull Crown Court heard.
READ MORE:
Hull man threatened to upload explicit photos of woman onto the internet
Serial sex offender who put young girl through 'disturbing' ordeal jailed for 18 years
Pyzer, 18, formerly of High Street, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted assaulting the police officer, causing actual bodily harm, and causing unnecessary cruelty to a police dog. He also admitted threatening a person with an offensive weapon, using threatening words or behaviour, causing criminal damage and making off without paying a taxi fare on April 5.
John Bottomley, prosecuting, said that, just before midnight, Pyzer got into a taxi with a woman. Both of them were carrying opened bottles of alcohol and they were "under the influence".
They arrived in Amberley Close, Bransholme, Hull, and the woman got out. Pyzer at first stayed in the taxi but he later quickly disappeared into a house and locked the door.
The taxi driver knocked on the door because he had not been paid for the £17.20 fare.
He walked back to his taxi and he had almost got there when he found Pyzer in front of him, holding a glass. Pyzer swung it at the taxi driver but the man managed to block it.
The taxi driver managed to overpower Pyzer, who returned to the house. "He came back out with a garden shovel, which he used to cause damage to the wing mirror," said Mr Bottomley. Other damage was caused to the taxi.
The driver later said: "No one has the right to assault me and make me scared for my safety, especially when I am doing my job." This had never happened to him before.
"The taxi driver remained at the scene and called the police," said Mr Bottomley. Police went to the area and tried to get into the house before calling for back-up.
Armed police arrived and forced entry into the house. A dog handler entered the house with his dog and saw Pyzer at the top of the stairs, shouting and being abusive and still armed with the shovel. "He threatened to kill the police dog, having seen it," said Mr Bottomley.
Pyzer, still at the top of the stairs, was asked to be compliant and he was warned about what would happen if he was not. The police dog was sent up the stairs.
Pyzer hit the police dog with the shovel, causing it to be pushed up against a wall. The police officer tried to "take down" Pyzer but the teenager raised the shovel above his head and tried to swing it towards the policeman's head.
The officer managed to put his hands up but he suffered an unpleasant one-inch cut on his arm and he passed out because of the loss of blood. Pyzer was eventually arrested. While in police custody, he hurled insults at a female police custody officer while he was in the cells.
The officer later said that the police dog was his "best mate" and that the dog could have been killed or seriously injured. The dog suffered a bruise to its abdomen and had to be taken to a vets.
Pyzer had convictions for 14 previous offences, including two of assaulting an emergency worker and others of possessing an offensive weapon, affray and threatening behaviour, all from last year.
He was in breach of a youth rehabilitation order made for offences including affray and possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply.
Michael Forrest, mitigating, said that, although the shovel could be seen as a highly dangerous weapon, the injuries caused were limited to a cut on the policeman's arm and a bruise to the dog. "He expresses his remorse for his actions that evening," said Mr Forrest.
"He doesn't seek to excuse his actions towards the taxi driver." Violence had been a feature of his adolescence and he had suffered injuries.
"It's his first offences as an adult," said Mr Forrest. "He knows that, if continues on this path and continues drinking, he will be back before the court.
"He never wanted to hurt the dog. He is horrified, hearing that. He never wanted to cause the taxi driver the fear that he caused.
"Older criminals have, unfortunately, taken an interest in this young boy." Pyzer had been in custody for four weeks and two days.
Judge John Thackray KC told Pyzer that the offences happened shortly after the Youth Court gave him a "golden opportunity" to change his ways. "You have a dreadful record of previous convictions," said Judge Thackray.
"Courts have given you numerous chances with youth rehabilitation orders and yet you have gone on to commit these serious offences. All of your victims were serving the community.
"The taxi driver, who you refused to pay, who you threatened with a garden spade and a glass, was playing a valuable role in our community and, to a degree, was vulnerable.
"The police officer was, again, serving the community. The animal that you struck with a spade was, again, there to protect and serve the public. All of your victims deserve and will receive the protection of the courts.
"You began by threatening and attempting to attack the taxi driver and, when he understandably called the police, you then continued with your violence. This was a prolonged and violent incident and, no doubt, your victims were significantly affected by your conduct."
Pyzer was sent to a young offenders' institution for a total of two years and 11 months.