Jessica Campbell was pregnant when she sprinted down the street after her two dogs. A judge described the animals as “completely out of control” and too big and strong to handle
A pregnant woman who ran down the street in her dressing gown after her XL bullies broke free and started wreaking havoc has ‘insulted’ the court, a judge has said.
Jessica Campbell and her partner sprinted after Reggie and Rui to try and regain control, a court heard. Her partner was savaged on the arm by Reggie. The animal went on to bite Campbell’s dad after being rehomed with him.
Campbell appeared in court and admitted it was a “terrible” incident for which she was very sorry. But the judge said her remorse was “an insult to the court” because texts showed the opposite to be true.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Campbell’s XL bullies escaped from her address in Widnes on June 28 last year. Both the 30-year-old and her boyfriend, David Smith, then gave chase in a bid to restrain the canines.
Joanne Maxwell, prosecuting, said the defendant was able to grab hold of Rui as her partner attempted to control Reggie. CCTV footage played to the court showed both pets roaming around a neighbour’s front garden before Mr Smith was seen wrestling in the middle of the road with the other dog before being bitten on the right forearm.
He suffered “significant” puncture wounds as a result and required hospital treatment. When police arrived he answered the door with his arm covered by a towel. Campbell was “uncooperative”, only telling officers she had four dogs in her property before closing the door on them, reported the Liverpool Echo.
Reggie was then given to the defendant’s dad but bit him on the arm after slipping its lead and attacking another person in July. The dog was put down as a result of this second incident. Campbell has one previous conviction from August 2022 for being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog, relating to an incident concerning Rui in December 2021.
Carmel Wilde, defending, said: “She has been a dog lover for her entire life. It is classed as one of the family. There has not been any incident since the dog was subjected to that control order, and she has demonstrated that she can be a good dog owner in terms of Rui. She accepts that it was a terrible incident. It has hurt her partner, who she loves the most. She says she feels terrible about what happened.”
But Stuart Judge Driver KC said text messages sent by Campbell in the aftermath of the incident “showed a complete lack of remorse”, adding: “It is quite clear that she did not feel terrible about what happened. Rather than do the sensible thing and have it destroyed, she put it in the custody of her father. It was only when it attacked him that she had it destroyed. Do not insult the court by saying there is remorse, because there clearly is not.”
Judge Driver said it was a “shocking fact” Rui remained in the defendant’s care. Campbell admitted being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place. She was handed a five-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and banned from owning dogs for five years.
Judge Driver said: “They were completely out of control. They were so big and strong that you and your partner could hardly contain them. The potential for serious injury was high. You were recklessly irresponsible. I am troubled to hear that you still have possession and custody of the dog that was involved in the 2022 case and was one of the animals I have seen out of control on this video, in the home which you share with a baby.”
