A stranger’s dog, a large Belgian Malinois named Scooby, viciously attacked an eight-year-old girl at a high street market in Folkestone, Kent, leaving her with facial scars. The incident occurred as the girl was browsing stalls, and the dog’s owner, Mohammed Kadir, walked away when the child screamed in fright and ran to her father. CCTV footage revealed the father chasing after Kadir and Scooby, but the dog snapped and injured him too. Previous records showed Scooby had attacked a police officer before.
Kadir, 46, faced charges for being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury. He admitted to the offenses during a court appearance. The court learned that a destruction order had been issued for Scooby to be kept under control in public at all times, but a momentary lapse of concentration led to the attack on the girl while Kadir was at the market.
Victoria Aked, the prosecutor, detailed the events, explaining how the girl was bitten on the face and abdomen by Scooby as she approached the dog. The father, trying to intervene, was also injured by the dog. Both father and daughter sustained scars from the incident. The girl received medical treatment at the William Harvey Hospital for her wounds.
Despite Kadir’s defense that the injuries were caused by the dog’s long nails and that he had the dog muzzled and on a tight lead, the magistrates considered the seriousness of the offenses. They sentenced Kadir to six months in jail, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to undergo rehabilitation sessions. Additionally, Kadir was instructed to pay compensation to the victims and banned from keeping dogs for five years. Scooby was ordered to be put down, and Kadir was required to contribute to police kennel costs and pay various court expenses.