Pitbull owner
guilty after
five PCs hurt

A man whose pitbull attacked five policemen has been convicted of owning a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.

Symieon Robinson-Pierre, 25, was found guilty of three charges connected with the injuries suffered by PCs Paul Garrard, Lee Bush and Steve Bones under the Dangerous Dogs Act during a hearing at London Crown Court.

Police fled when the dog attacked them as they attempted to raid Robinson-Pierre’s home in Albert Square, Newham, on March 22.

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The court previously heard that locals stood and filmed the scene on their mobile phones. The dog was shot four times by a police officer after five officers failed to subdue it.

A jury of seven men and five women reached a unanimous verdict, finding Robinson-Pierre guilty on all three charges.

He was previously cleared of a fourth when it was ruled the attack on PC Marc Merritt took place in the garden of Robinson-Pierre’s home, which is a not a public place. An attack by the animal on a fifth policeman, PC Martin Corderoy, took place in the garden and was not the subject of a charge.

Robinson-Pierre also admitted a charge of owning a fighting dog. He was remanded in custody for sentencing.

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Prosecution lawyers compared the bloody scene to the Battle of Trafalgar.

Robinson-Pierre’s barrister Craig Harris asked the jury to consider whether the dog was “dangerously out of control” or focusing “targeted aggression”.

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