Dogsey

A man's dog left a woman horrifically injured when she went to view it after seeing it on Gumtree.

The incident involving the woman came days after it attacked the man and a young child.

Sheedy Rashid bought the Shar Pei dog from the classified ad site after its original owner decided to sell it because it had bitten his son.

Within days Rashid had listed the dog for sale on the same website because it had tried to bite him when he put it's harness on to take it for a walk.

He did not mention that it had twice tried to bite in his advert and the same day Louise Aiton, 26, contacted him within hours interested in buying the animal.

Later that day Mrs Aiton went to Rashid's house to view the dog, a breed originally bred as guard dogs.

But as she picked up it's harness the animal "went wild" and immediately bit her and tried to drag her backwards.

She was pulled along the ground and had to punch the dog to get it to release her.

Mrs Aiton was taken to Dundee's Ninewells Hospital and phoned police, who subsequently arranged for the dog to be destroyed.

The following day the wound to her wrist became infected, causing severe pain and vomiting and required an operation to remove an abscess.

She needed two further operations to clean the wounds and was left with permanent scars and nerve damage as a result.

Fiscal depute Vicky Bell told Dundee Sheriff Court: "Witness Ryan Lamond had bought the dog from a seller he met on the internet in July 2012. On July 17 his young son was bitten by the dog and he felt he could no longer trust the dog in the company of his children.

"He sought advice and was told to rehome or destroy it so listed it on Gumtree to go to a home without children. The same day the accused expressed an interest and subsequently purchased the dog.

"That day the accused was preparing to take the dog for a walk and as he attempted to put a harness on it the dog tried to bite his right hand and narrowly missed.

"The accused on August 9 2012 put the dog for sale on Gumtree and the same day Louise Aiton contacted the accused - though the advert did not mention that the dog had previously bitten.

"When she was handed the harness the dog 'went wild', immediately turned and bit her on the left wrist, continually applying pressure while attempting to drag her backwards.

"In an attempt to prevent further damage she allowed herself to be pulled in the same direction as the dog was moving and had to punch the dog before it released her.

"Due to the injury Mrs Aiton felt she was going to pass out and her husband took her to hospital. She subsequently underwent three operations to clean and close the wound and remove infected tissue.

"She has been left with permanent scarring and permanent nerve damage as a result."

Miss Bell added: "Mrs Aiton is now extremely scared of dogs as a result of this incident. She states she would run in the opposite direction if she saw one, go pale and feel physically sick.

"She moved to live with her mother after the incident as she felt there was less of a chance of encountering a dog there. Her ability to do various tasks such as cooking, driving a car and her hobby of riding a horse have been affected."

Rashid, 42, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act that his animal bit Louise Aiton to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment on August 9 2012.

Defence solicitor Douglas McConnell said he would reserve his plea in mitigation to a later sentencing date.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC deferred sentence until next month for a criminal justice social work background report and released Rashid on bail meantime.

She said: "This has had severe consequences for Mrs Aiton and I take a serious view of it."