Man whose two dogs left food parcel volunteer with ‘permanent scars’ after they mauled him while left in ‘appalling’ conditions is spared jail
A man who left two out-of-control dogs and a delivery man injured in his owner’s front garden with ‘permanent scars’ has been spared prison.
The court heard that Kieran Morris, 21, kept his dogs in ‘appalling’ conditions before attacking the volunteer delivering food parcels in Newcastle’s West End on August 19, 2023.
Morris, who lives with his mother in Beech Grove Road, was charged with being the owner of a dog that went out of control causing serious injury and pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court.
The court heard today that when police were called to Morris’ home they found a total of four dogs living in squalid conditions, surrounded by faeces.
A victim impact statement read to the court stated: ‘I truly believed I could be killed during the attack.
‘Being attacked by two dogs made me feel powerless. I am left with permanent scars. The owner did nothing to stop the attack.’
Daisy Wrigley, prosecuting, described the incident and described how the unnamed victim went to Morris’ home and saw the animals in the gated front garden.
The man had delivered food there before and went in and started petting the dogs to see if they were friendly.
Kieran Morris, 21, was spared jail after keeping his dogs in ‘appalling’ conditions before attacking the delivery man, leaving him with ‘permanent scars’, a court has heard
Morris was sentenced to 18 months suspended with 200 hours of unpaid work and sentenced to six months in prison. The judge said: ‘Neither dogs nor people should live in these conditions’
At the beginning, they both looked like they were licking his hand as he entered the garden and closed the door.
However, when he approached the door, the situation turned and two dogs blocked his way.
ChronicleLive He quoted Ms Wrigley as telling jurors: ‘Their demeanor had changed and they had become aggressive.
‘They started biting him, starting from his wrists. He tried to push them away, but they continued to approach him.
‘They continued to bite him, causing him to scream for help. They both pinned him against a door and he realized he was bleeding. He tried to kick them away, but they continued to approach him.’
He was hospitalized with multiple injuries to his hands and wrists. Police were called and a total of three dogs were seized.
When officers arrived at the scene they found the garden littered with feces, overflowing rubbish, a chewed-up sofa and mattress, and the doors blocked with bullets and dressing gown cords.
Dog food bowls containing small amounts of food and dirty water were found in the kitchen.
When asked about living standards, Morris said the dogs were too noisy to keep in the same room.
The court heard that the adoption process for the three seized dogs was still ongoing. The effort has cost taxpayers £20,000 since they were seized.
Lucy Todd, defending, said Morris, who was 19 at the time, did not appreciate the ‘responsibilities of owning a dog’ and had ‘learned from his mistake’.
He added: ‘They were trustworthy family dogs and had never previously shown any signs of aggression towards people and had been around children.’
He claimed Morris cared “very much” for the dogs, expressed “deep remorse” and “deepest sympathy for the victim”.
Today judge Sarah Mallett sentenced Morris to an 18-month suspension and 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also banned from owning dogs for seven years.
‘The conditions at home and the conditions under which the dogs lived and were cared for were deplorable,’ he said.
‘Dogs and people should not live in these conditions.’
The court heard Morris cared for his mother, who had mental health problems.
