A court has ordered the destruction of an XL Bully that jumped up at a woman and bit her on the hand. Nipsy, a two-year-old rescue, lunged at the woman while being held on a leash by a man trying to avoid police officers.
They were called to a block of flats by alarmed residents over concerns about the animal. But as William Durnion, 32, tried to leave, he met the female resident who was trying to get in.
Nipsy then 'aggressively' jumped on her and bit her right hand causing a puncture wound, a court heard. Durnion became abusive towards police and shouted, "You are not taking the dog, f**k off, you will not put it down", before he eventually handed him over.
A sheriff at the court in Scotland has now ruled Nipsy is a danger to the public and should be put down.
Durnion, of Motherwell, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control. He also pleaded guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner, reports GlasgowLive.
The court was told the victim was attacked after Durnion refused to stop and speak to police. The prosecutor, Sinead Corrigan, said: "When police officers asked the accused to stop and control the dog, he became verbally abusive towards them and became hostile."
The defendant continued walking away from police towards the main entrance where the victim was attempting to enter. He was holding the dog on a chain lead. As she was walking past, the dog jumped up aggressively and bit her on her right hand causing a puncture wound which was slightly bleeding, the prosecutor said.
"The accused refused to place the dog in the marked cell van and continued to shout, but then calmed down and placed the dog in the van," she added. "He was then spoken to about the dog and confirmed its name was Nipsy and that it was a rescue dog."
Andy Brophy, defending, said: "The dog does not belong to the accused and it is in kennels at the moment. I don't think he would have any say on the destruction of the dog."
Sheriff Louise Gallacher ordered Nipsy to be destroyed and deferred sentence on Durnion until next month for reports.
The sheriff said: "It is my view that the circumstances are such that the dog is a danger to public safety and I will order the destruction of the dog."
Prosecutors have asked for Durnion to be banned from keeping animals. A ban on XL Bully dogs came into place in Scotland in February, three weeks after Nipsy attacked Marshall.
It is legal to own one of the dogs, but they must be muzzled and on a lead in public while selling or exchanging them will be banned. From July 31 it will be an offence to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate.