Twelve months in prison for owner of dog that attacked officers

Francis Burton, 53 of Broad Close in Bulkington, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after her Presa Canario attacked two police officers. 

She has also been disqualified from owning a dog for a period of ten years.

On 30 August 2023, two officers attended Kingsley Crescent in Bulkington to attempt the arrest of Burton, who was wanted on warrant for failing to appear in court for assaulting a police officer in Newtown, Wales (for this offence, Francis was found guilty and sentenced to 18 weeks in prison at Coventry Magistrates Court on 31 August).

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”.

The officers mentioned that 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.

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.

They 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.

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.

At Warwick Crown Court on 15 May, Francis Burton was sentenced for two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

Burton has been given 12 months in prison, a ten-year disqualification from owning dogs, and is required to pay a victims’ surcharge of £187.

Adrian Harcourt was sentenced for two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury in Coventry Magistrates Court on 30 April.

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.

The Presa Canario was seized and is subject to a destruction order.

PC Wheeler said “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.”