Dog to be destroyed after attack on 8-year-old girl

OWNER GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCE OVER CHILD'S INJURY

- By NEIL SHAW

MAGISTRATES have given orders for a dog to be put down after it attacked an eight-year-old girl at a high street market and left her permanently scarred.

Scooby, a Belgian Malinois, jumped at the child while she browsed stalls in Sandgate Road, Folkestone, leaving her with wounds to her cheek and abdomen.

The dog's owner, Mohammed Kadir, quickly walked away when the child screamed in fright and ran to her father. Her father gave chase, but Scooby snarled and jumped up at his arm, injuring him too. The attack left the girl "shaken, quiet and clingy, and with facial scars.

Folkestone magistrates heard Scooby had previously lunged at a police officer and locked its jaws around his wrist. After that incident a contingent destruction order was made on the dog, which meant it had to be kept under control at all times in public.

However, while Kadir was at the market on May 18 last year, "a momentary lapse of concentration" led to Scooby injuring the girl.

Kadir, 46, was later charged with two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury. He admitted the offences when he appeared in court in May this year.

The case was adjourned and Kadir returned to Folkestone Magistrates' Court this month to learn his fate. He gave his address as the Rainbow Centre, Sandgate Road, but the bench was told he lives in a caravan.