A WOMAN has been warned she could go to jail after her dog killed a chihuahua and injured its owner.
Despite previously admitting being the owner in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, Dawn Housman repeatedly interrupted prosecutor Mark Hambling saying she didn’t like hearing 'lies'.
At Worcester Magistrates Court, Mr Hambling said: “A dog belonging to Miss Housman leaves her home address when the chihuahua is on a lead with the owner.”
Housman interrupted saying “it wasn’t”, Mr Hambling replying to her “do you mind”.
Mr Hambling continued: “This lady’s dog attacks the chihuahua, kills the chihuahua, and doesn’t relent from trying to bite.”
Mr Hambling said the American Bull Terrier had then also bitten the finger of Katie Harris, the chihuahua's owner, injuring her hand in the incident that took place outside Housman’s home in Back Lane South on April 9, 2021.
At the start of the hearing the 52-year-old was asked if she was unrepresented as there was no solicitor in court to represent her.
Housman replied: “No one contacted me.”
After another interruption, chairman of the magistrates bench, Kevin Lloyd-Wright, said: “Miss Housman wait for the prosecution to speak.”
Mr Hambling said the case had been listed for sentencing on Monday (June 6), with a pre-sentence report meant to have been prepared ahead - but one had not been completed.
He said Housman’s previous convictions included one in 2011 for keeping a dangerous dog making that an aggravating feature of the case, and added the prosecution was asking for a “large amount of compensation to pay for veterinary bills”.
Housman was told the purpose of the hearing was to gather information, and nothing would be decided on sentencing.
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But Housman replied: “I understand that, but what he (the prosecutor) just said is wrong. The dog didn’t bite (the victim).”
Elizabeth Armstrong, from the probation service, said she had apologised to Housman that the pre-sentence report had not been done, adding she spoke to Housman about an on the day report but they both decided it was better if a thorough report was written.
After more interruptions, the chairman told Housman she needed to tell her legal representatives - when appointed - what she had said in court as that would be her mitigation.
Dawn Housman told she has to attend her sentence hearing in July
The chairman: “These are serious offences. You do need to be represented at the sentencing.
"The court could impose any sentence the law allows, and that could include a custodial sentence."
Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report with the sentence date set for July 4. Housman was given unconditional bail.
He told Housman she needed to work with probation to produce the report, and gave her the standard warning that if she failed to attend the sentencing, or committed another offence while on bail, she could be punished further.
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