Dog who bit Wiltshire Police officer will not be put down, court heard

Gemma Sankey, of Melor View, Amesbury, owner of the Carpathian Shepherd Dog Shroom, was sentenced for two counts of failing to control a dangerous animal in Salisbury Magistrates Court on Monday, July 17.

The 51-year-old cried in the dock when magistrates told her they would not be making an order to put her dog down, despite it attacking people on two occasions.

On July 4, 2021, Sankey was staying in a tent at a glamping site in Seend when Shroom "jumped up" and attacked the owner's daughter, Michelle Vincent, as she was helping her mother clean.

Read more: ​Wiltshire Police officer bitten by Carpathian Shepherd Dog

Three months later, on October 3, Shroom bit PC Michael Obern on his buttock when helping Sankey move into a Travelodge in Devizes.

The Wiltshire Police officer was warned by Sankey to not wear a high-vis jacket as this would make the dog 'react'.

Footage played to the court on March 6 showed PC Obern petting the dog before turning away and screaming in pain as the dog bit him on the buttock.

Gemma Sankey covered up outside Salisbury Law Courts. (Image: Solent News)

Sankey's friend suggested to the court that Shroom bit PC Obern because she thought her owner was about to be "assaulted again by another male figure".

Both attacks pierced the skin of the victims and the CPS requested the dog to be destroyed.

Sankey denied both of the attacks when she was on trial, claiming the wounds were "self-inflicted".

Tony Nowogrodzki, prosecuting, said: "Quite how you can self-inflict the injury bearing in mind it was on the buttock is a matter of conjecture."

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Harriet Heard, defending, requested Magistrates release Shroom back to her client on the condition he is muzzled in public.

The court heard that Sankey owns another animal, named Cesar, which is a "registered assistance dog".

Shroom had been staying in a kennel since police seized her after the attack on PC Obern.

Miss Heard said Sankey is "very responsible", adding: "She has been punished a great deal by not having her dog with her.

"Shroom was much happier in her care".

Salisbury Law Courts. (Image: Newsquest)

The court previously heard from Sankey that she had worked as a dog psychologist with a special knowledge of 'canine aggression' for over 35 years, but prosecutors said she had no formal qualifications and should not be considered 'an expert'.

Magistrates sentenced Sankey to a 12-month community order in which she must complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days with the Nelson Trust.

Telling her "the future of Shroom is in your hands", the Magistrates ordered Sankey to keep the six-stone Romanian dog muzzled whenever it is in public.

She must also pay £1,974, which includes a fine of £60, £1250 kennel fees, compensation of £50 to both victims, a surcharge of £114 to fund victim services and £450 court costs.