Amazon driver feared he would die in dog attack as he delivered parcel

11 December 2023 , 21:13

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Gucci, a Dogue de Bordeaux or French mastiff dog, is subject to a contingent destruction order (stock image) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

An Amazon driver feared for his life as he was attacked by an aggressive dog while he delivered a parcel, a court has heard.

The victim was attacked by Gucci, a Dogue de Bordeaux or French mastiff dog, that "lacked any basic training". He was knocked to the floor and the dog sank its teeth into him. The driver suffered multiple lacerations to his hand and forearm in the attack but had to make his own way to hospital as no ambulances were available.

Swansea Crown Court heard the owner's attempts to intervene in the attack "amounted to effectively standing and shouting and hoping the dog would stop". Cat Jones, prosecuting, said the self-employed Amazon delivery driver was attacked as he tried to deliver a parcel to the home of Gemma Saunders in Pontypool on May 11 last year.

Gemma Saunders outside Swansea Crown Court (John Myers)

The court heard that as the driver approached the property he noticed two large dogs barking at him through French windows. One of them - Gucci - managed to get out the house and attack the visitor. The court heard the mastiff "lunged" at the driver and knocked him to the floor, and then bit his hand and arm, reports WalesOnline.

Saunders and her daughter came out of the house and started screaming at the dog to stop, but Gucci did not release his grip. The driver eventually managed to get to his feet and grab a chair which he used to defend himself. The prosecutor said Saunders' son then came out of the property and was able to get the dog under control and take him back inside.

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The victim sustained multiple lacerations to his wrist, hand, finger, and forearm in the attack. An ambulance was called, but because no vehicles were available, the delivery driver made his own way to hospital. Meanwhile, the police had been called, and when officers arrived Gucci was "still barking and acting aggressively". The dog was removed from the address. In a statement read out to the court by the prosecutor, the delivery driver said that at one point during the incident "I feared if I didn't get the dog off me, I would die".

The prosecutor said while there was a sign at the house indicating the presence of the dog, there was "a lack of safety or control measures" in place, and she said the defendant's intervention on the day in question "amounted to effectively standing and shouting, and hoping the dog would stop". She added that Gucci lacked "any basic training".

Gemma Saunders, aged 40, of School View, Pontypool, had denied being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control, but was convicted at trial in June. She returned to the dock on Monday for sentencing. The defendant has no previous convictions.

Hannah Friedman, for Saunders, said there had been no history of aggression on the part of Gucci and no previous complaints about the dog or about Saunders keeping animals. She added that the defendant was "mortified and apologetic" about the injuries caused to the delivery driver.

Saunders was given a 12-month community order with 220 hours of unpaid work, and must pay prosecution costs of £2,400. A contingent destruction order was made concerning Gucci, meaning he will not be put down as long as safety measures are put in place before he is returned to the defendant's house.

Jason Evans