Home Top

Woman's dangerous pitbull bit off a mayor's finger and ATE it as she posted leaflets through the letterbox

Former mayor of Dover was out posting leaflets when her hand was bitten
Pitbull bit off and ate her finger as she put her hand in the letterbox
Dog's owner has now been given a suspended sentence by magistrates

Published: 12:34 GMT, 14 July 2016 | Updated: 14:25 GMT, 14 July 2016

View
comments

A mayor's finger was bitten off and eaten by a dangerous dog as she posted a leaflet through a letterbox, a court heard.

Pam Brivio was posting leaflets with her local Labour party in Dover, Kent when a pitbull jumped up and bit off her finger.

The town counsellor needed surgery but medics could not save her finger. The dog's owner has now been given a suspended sentence by Folkestone magistrates.

Pam Brivio, a former mayor of Dover, had her finger bitten off by a dangerous dog as she delivered leaflets

Ms Brivio said: 'There were no warning signs and no noise when I approached the door'

Prosecutor Paul Shaw said the inside of the door was damaged by scratches and Royal Mail had suspended deliveries due to the dog.

The court heard there were no signs revealing there was a dog at the address and no cage on the interior of the letterbox.

Ms Brivio, 71, said: 'I've never experienced anything like this in 30 years. There were no warning signs and no noise when I approached the door.

'I'm not being funny, but this is an occupational hazard. Dog owners have to take responsibility for their pets.'

The dog's owner, Port of Dover security officer Patricia Sharman, 22, broke down in tears in court as magistrates were told the dog was put down by police.

The incident happened in this street, Tower Hill in Dover in September last year

Defence lawyer Hugh Roberts said Sharman was 'absolutely devastated' after the incident in September last year.

He said Sharman took the dog, called Bentley in because she was scared it was being mistreated.

She was convicted of possessing a dangerously out of control dog and sentenced to 60 days in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Magistrate Christopher Mackenny said: 'This is a significant injury. The harm was the loss of part of the little finger and considerable psychological damage to the injured party.'