Guide dog attack teen handed 10 year dog ban (From Times Series)

Cricklewood pitbull attack owner given two year suspended sentence

12:57pm Wednesday 24th February 2010 in News By Alex Hayes

A TEENAGER who allowed his pitbull terrier to attack a guide dog in a Cricklewood subway has been banned from keeping dogs for ten years.

John-Jo Madden, 18, of Gospel Oak, was also handed a suspended two-year jail term and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work for failing to keep the animal under control on October 4 last year.

He will also have to pay £1,200 compensation to the Guide Dogs Association and a further £500 to Neela's blind owner, after she was left with nasty puncture wounds to the neck.

CCTV footage released of the incident shows the pitbull dog, which has still not been found, going for Neela as the pair walked through the subway at Cricklewood station at about 1.30pm.

Madden can be seen kicking and punching his dog in an attempt to get it off, before running away without offering any help to his victim.

Neela's owner, who asked not to be named, told Hendon Magistrates Court in a victim impact statement: “To be unable to see the assault was horrific and terrifying.

“What was to become of Neela, my faithful sighted guide and what of myself and my independence? In seconds both were being snapped away from me. “She was being attacked and suffering tremendous pain and not knowing why. I felt tremendous guilt that Neela would associate the onslaught with me. It was a period of total isolation and fear.”

A destruction order was placed on the pitbull dog, which has still not been found after Madden passed it on to another owner.

After the hearing Detective Constable Gerry Griffin, of the British Transport Police, said: “This was a very sad case that shocked dog lovers across the country.

“The incident clearly illustrates the importance of making sure that dogs are under the control of their owners at all times - particularly in public places such as railway stations.

“I’m pleased to say that Neela, who displayed no aggression whatsoever during the attack, has fully recovered and is now back to work at her owner’s side.”