XL Bully Owner Sentenced to Five Years After Fatal Dog Attack in Staffordshire Village
James Harrison Trimble-Pettit, the owner of two XL Bully dogs that fatally attacked a man in a Staffordshire village, has been jailed for five years. The 33-year-old admitted two counts of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control which caused the death of Ian Price, aged 52, in Stonnall.
Escape and Fatal Attack on Main Street
The two dogs, a champagne-coloured female named Via and a white male called Ares, escaped from their home on Main Street in Stonnall on Thursday, September 14, 2023. One dog got out through a window while the other escaped through an insecure door. They then attacked Ian Price, who lived across the road.
Passers-by desperately tried to intervene during the prolonged and vicious assault, but Mr Price suffered catastrophic injuries. Staffordshire Police officers arrived swiftly, and Mr Price was rushed to hospital in critical condition, where he later died. One dog died during the incident, and the other was euthanized by a veterinarian.
History of Escapes and Previous Attacks
Evidence presented in court revealed that Trimble-Pettit was aware his dogs could escape and posed a danger. In March 2023, both dogs had previously escaped and attacked a woman and her dog in a local shop. Witnesses reported the dogs escaping through windows and gates on multiple occasions.
One woman stopped using a local park in January 2023 after Trimble-Pettit warned her his dogs were "not friendly" while they ran off-lead and ignored his commands. An expert assessment of his property found inadequate security, poor living conditions, and a garden full of faeces, with no dog beds, crates, bedding, or toys to stimulate the animals.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Trimble-Pettit, now of Fradley in Lichfield, initially contested his level of culpability, claiming it was due to a momentary lapse in concentration. However, this basis was not accepted by the Crown, leading to a trial of issue at Stafford Crown Court in October, where he admitted the offences in full.
At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, February 12, he was jailed for five years and banned from owning a dog indefinitely. Senior Crown Prosecutor James Morris stated, "This is a tragic case where Ian Price lost his life as a result of the sustained negligence of two XL bully dogs kept by James Trimble-Pettit."
Morris emphasized that Trimble-Pettit failed to heed warnings about his dogs' dangerous nature and kept them in unsuitable, insecure conditions. The Crown Prosecution Service built a comprehensive case using witness testimony, CCTV footage, and expert evidence, proving serious fault on his part.
Owning a dog carries significant responsibility, and those who fail to control their animals will be held fully accountable under the law. While nothing can undo the devastation caused to Mr Price's family, this conviction and sentence aim to provide some measure of justice.
