Ex-husband disrupts court after an XL bully attack at a caravan park. Defendant showed remorse for incident.
Christopher Steele worked at the park in Towyn, North Wales, for years. On June 22, around 10 AM, he read a gas meter there when Brennan opened her caravan door. The dog then attacked Mr. Steele. The dog went straight for his leg, and Zahra Baqri explained Steele’s fear, saying he believed he was going to die.
The dog bit him repeatedly in the leg, prompting Brennan’s ex-husband to yell in court. The judge told him to leave for interrupting, but the man said he could not listen to lies. Brennan cried and apologized in the courtroom, but the judge said it was not her fault; however, she replied that it was her fault.
Ms. Baqri continued sharing the case details, noting Steele tried hard to escape the dog, feeling trapped. Brennan also attempted to restrain her dog, and eventually, the dog let go of Steele’s leg. Steele jumped over a fence to escape and ran to his van after being freed. Brennan approached the van, upset and distressed, while her husband, recovering from their wild night, had a hangover inside the caravan.
Steele went to the hospital after the attack, finding he had many puncture wounds near his ankle, about twelve to seventeen. He now needs a lot of medicine to cope. He has a bad scar that makes him self-conscious and worries he might lose his leg. Nightmares plague him, involving dogs attacking kids. The police later seized Stan, who was then destroyed.
Brennan downplayed the attack to police and even accused Steele of hitting the dog. She let the dog off its lead and muzzle briefly to enter the caravan and denied seeing the dog bite. Peter White defended her in court, saying she tried to stop the attack, but her attempts were futile.
He argued she did not know how dangerous the dog was, noting Brennan did neuter the dog and register him. The dog was always leashed in public before, and she feels extreme guilt for Steele’s injuries. Brennan has known Steele for a long time and would never wish harm to come to him.
Many people depend upon Brennan now, and she is doing her best in a hard situation. She provides care for other family members and her marriage was difficult, ending in separation. Brennan admitted to owning a dangerous dog, and the court might decide if she can keep her dogs. The case was delayed for an assessment, with Brennan owning two other XL bully mixed breed dogs.
The judge said owning dogs is a huge responsibility, and dangerous breeds can cause many issues. He needs confirmation she is a responsible owner and worries given her personal struggles.
