Richard Desmond is fined £10,000 after Summer his ‘out of control’ German shepherd bit two workers on Billionaire’s Row
- The media moguls’ dog will now have to wear a muzzle following the attack
Billionaire and media mogul Richard Desmond has been fined £10,00 after his dog bit two people while ‘dangerously out of control’ in north London earlier this year.
Desmond is the former owner of The Express, The Star and OK magazine – he is estimated to be worth just under a billion (£0.98bn) according to Forbes.
Summer, his German shepherd, will now have to wear a muzzle in public places following the attack on Carl Allen and Mark Webber, who were working on The Bishops Avenue, known as Billionaire’s Row, on March 30.
The pair had been going about their business when the dog attacked them out of the blue, Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard.
Desmond appeared in court this morning charged twice with being ‘in charge of dog dangerously out of control causing injury’. The 71-year-old pleaded guilty to the two offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act and ‘accepted full responsibility’.
Billionaire Richard Desmond was pictured outside Willesden Magistrates’ Court this morning, he was charged twice with being ‘in charge of dog dangerously out of control causing injury’
Desmond (pictured) is the former owner of The Express, The Star and OK magazine – he is estimated to be worth just under a billion (£0.98bn) according to Forbes
The judge ordered for the dog to wear a muzzle in public places and warned if Desmond did not follow this or if the dog re-offended its future would be ‘in peril’.
Tree surgeon Mr Webber said the dog had ‘lunged’ at him before puncturing his leg.
Prosecutor Martin Edwards the two injured men suffered puncture wounds and Mr Allen has been left worried about visiting homes in future for work.
In his evidence, Mr Allen claimed he said to Desmond: ‘Can you keep your dog under control he bit me.’
According to Mr Allen, the media mogul responded by saying: ‘No he didn’t.’
Today, Desmond was fined £5,000 for each of the two offences. He was also ordered to pay each of the victims £1,000 in compensation, in addition to a £2,000 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.
The 71-year-old pleaded guilty to the two offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act and had ‘accepted full responsibility’
Desmond was fined £5,000 for each of the two offences. He was also ordered to pay each of the victims £1,000 in compensation, in addition to a £2,000 victim surcharge and £85 in costs
Defending Desmond, Philip Evans KC said the dog had been ‘startled’, possibly by the noise of a sliding van door.
Mr Evans described Desmond as a man of ‘thoroughly good character’. He added: ‘There have been no other incidents involving Summer. There is considerable evidence he has taken this seriously.’
Magistrate Mark Jabbitt said: ‘I accept you are a prominent businessman and philanthropist but you are responsible for your dog.
‘There was a lapse in judgement. You have exercised responsible leadership since then.’
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