XL Bully that attacked woman in Motherwell incident to be put down

An XL Bully that jumped up on a woman and bit her on the hand is to be destroyed, a sheriff has ruled.

Nipsy, a two-year-old rescue, had been held on a leash by William Durnion in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, when the dog lunged at a woman.

Police had been called to the block of flats by alarmed residents amid concerns over the brown and white animal.

But as Durnion, 32, tried to avoid officers he encountered resident, Margaret Marshall, who was trying to get in. Nipsy then 'aggressively' jumped on her and bit her right hand causing a puncture wound in January.

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Durnion became abusive towards police and shouted, 'You are not taking the dog, f**k off, you will not put it down', before he eventually handed him over. He told officers Nipsy was a rescue dog and belonged to another man.

Marshall was given a tetanus jag and had her wound dressed by medics before being released from hospital.

Durnion, of Motherwell, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control. He also pled guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner.

Depute fiscal Sinead Corrigan told how Marshall had been attacked after Durnion refused to stop and speak to police.

The prosecutor said: "When police officers asked the accused to stop and control the dog, he became verbally abusive towards them and became hostile.

"He continued walking away from them towards the main entrance where the witness Marshall was attempting to enter.

"He was holding the dog on a chain lead and as the witness was walking past, the dog has jumped up aggressively and bit her on her right hand causing a puncture wound which was slightly bleeding.

"She was immediately fearful and physically shaken and Durnion was again asked to stop.

"The accused refused to place the dog in the marked cell van and continued to shout but then calmed down and placed the dog in the van."

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The fiscal added: "He was then spoken to about the dog and confirmed its name was Nipsy and that it was a rescue dog."

Andy Brophy, defending, said: "The dog does not belong to the accused and it is in kennels at the moment. I don't think he would have any say on the destruction of the dog."

Sheriff Louise Gallacher ordered Nipsy should be destroyed and deferred sentence on Durnion until next month for reports.

The sheriff said: "It is my view that the circumstances are such that the dog is a danger to public safety and I will order the destruction of the dog."

Prosecutors have asked for Durnion to be banned from keeping animals.

His not guilty pleas to two charges which alleged Nipsy had bitten two other women were accepted.

A ban on American XL bully dogs came into place in Scotland in February, three weeks after Nipsy attacked Marshall.

It is legal to own one of the dogs but they must be muzzled and on a lead in public while selling or exchanging them will be banned.

And from July 31 it will be an offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate.