Woman left with 'horrific' injuries after 'selfish' owners fled from dog attack
A woman suffered horrific injuries after a dangerous dog "charged" and bit her several times on the leg - but the "grossly irresponsible and selfish" owners fled the scene.
The two owners, Nicola and Bobby Ouzman, had been trying to find somewhere isolated for their dogs Escobar and Cali, and chose a grassy area in Wrexham, north Wales, in July last year. They came upon dogwalker Sarah Blaylock, 56, unexpectedly. Escobar, a pitbull known as "Esco", set upon Mrs Blaylock's springer spaniel Wilf, while Cali, a black Cane Corso breed, came up behind Mrs Blaylock. The Ouzmans fled with their dogs.
The woman, who sustained three deep bites, is still too traumatised even to consider talking her own dog, Wilf, out for walks (DAILY POST WALES)A Good Samaritan found the badly injured victim and helped her. She hadn't wanted to get blood in his car so both walked on to Lavister.
Help came via the Nag's Head pub and her husband Mike took her to Wrexham Maelor Hospital. She went to hospital three times and her GP 22 times in total before the wounds healed.
The Ouzmans were convicted of being an owner or person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. Today they received suspended jail sentences, reports North Wales Live.
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Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell said Mrs Blaylock had taken Wilf for a walk by Rossett Business Park on Sunday, July 24. In Llyndir Lane, she heard a scream, which she guessed was from a nearby owner, and saw a pitbull charging towards her, it was said.
She "turned tail and ran" but the pitbull - named Escobar or Esco - pinned down her dog Wilf. It should have been muzzled after a previous incident but was not, said the prosecutor. Another dog - a Cane Corso called Cali - then bit Mrs Blaylock's left leg several times. The defendants Nicola, 27, and Bobby Ouzman, 25, caught up with their dogs and pulled Cali off Mrs Blaylock.
The couple walked off with their pets, with Mr Ouzman returning to the scene to pick up his mobile phone. He provided "lip service" that he would come back again but never did, said Mr Rothwell.
Ms Blaylock had a four-centimetre long bite to her leg (DAILY POST WALES)The victim went to hospital where doctors treated wounds including a four centimetre long bite to her left leg and another bite which was five centimetres long by three centimetres wide by two centimetres deep. Doctors had to pull the muscle back in and she was given painkillers and a tetanus jab.
Over the next ten weeks she had to visit the hospital twice more and her GP 22 times in total until the wounds healed. She is scarred and feels constantly anxious and "incapable" of walking her dog.
Her husband has also had to take on more responsibilities and walk Wilf three times a day. Esco has been put down and the court also ordered Cali to be destroyed.
The prosecutor Mr Rothwell noted that North Wales Police say kennel fees for seized dogs in such incidents cost £290,000 between 2014 and 2021 alone. Amy Edwards, defending Mrs Ouzman, of Bridgeway West, Runcorn, said they took their dogs to what they thought was an isolated area on grass behind Rossett Business Park.
After the incident they grabbed both dogs and went back to their car but panicked. "They both admit that how they behaved after that was wrong," she added. Mrs Ouzman is remorseful.
The court heard Mr Ouzman "hared off" to London to live with his parents and has been there ever since, said his barrister Clive Reece. He accepted it was a "terrifying injury" and his client, of Roding Lane North, Woodford Green, northeast London, apologises.
His client has had a motorcycle accident since the dog attack but is now recovered and hopes to work in the security industry. The judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands said the photographs of the injuries are "absolutely horrific".
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They had shown a "callous disregard for the welfare" of Mrs Blaylock. He said: "You were more concerned with trying to escape with your dogs."
He said Esco had already been the subject of a contingent destruction order, requiring a muzzle to be worn, imposed by North West London Magistrates' Court in May last year after an earlier incident. But he said if he suspended the sentences then the victim could be paid compensation which was important.
He gave both defendants an 18-month jail term, suspended for 18 months. They must wear an electronic tag for four months to be at home "over Christmas and beyond" between 8pm and 6am. They must each pay £2,500 compensation to their victim. They were both disqualified from owning a dog for ten years.
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