XL bully owner 'wouldn't wish attack on worst enemy'

The owner of an XL bully which savaged a pensioner has told a court he would not wish the attack on his "worst enemy".

John McColl, 84, died from his injuries a month after the attack by the dog, called Toretto, which had to be shot 10 times by police officers in Warrington on 24 February last year.

Giving evidence at Liverpool Crown Court, owner Sean Garner said he took every step he possibly could to make sure the dog was safe.

He told the jury the dog was locked inside a shed on the patio outside his home on Bardsley Avenue, which had a gate which was secured by a latch and a chain, when Mr McColl walked up the driveway.

The trial has heard that McColl appeared to have wandered on to Garner's driveway for unknown reasons while he was on the way home from the pub shortly after 18:00 GMT.

Garner told the court on Thursday that he believed the victim released the dog from the shed in the moments before the attack.

On Friday he told the court he was "devastated" by the incident, adding: "I could never imagine that a man who has been the pub could go up my path on his way home and do what he has obviously done to let my dog out.

"It's horrible what's happened to him.

"I've got no words to describe what happened to him. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

Garner disagreed that the dog was hungry, despite an examination finding there was no dog food in its stomach.

"Someone's come into his property who he doesn't know. It's natural behaviour of a dog," he said.

David Birrell, prosecuting, said: "Your dog wasn't guarding the premises, it was eating Mr McColl."

Garner replied: "He was locked in the shed when I went out."

The 31-year-old, who the court heard ran a recovery business transporting cars, said he did not return to his home when police rang him about the incident because he was disqualified from driving and did not want officers to see him in a vehicle.

He agreed he was a "coward" to instead allow his pregnant partner to return to the house with their two children, which led to police arresting her.

"I was waiting to find out what had happened," Garner said.

The prosecution allege that the dog was not locked inside the shed but was on the patio of the home, with only a latch on the gate preventing it from getting out.

Garner, of Belle Vale, Liverpool, denies being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control.

He has previously admitted two counts of possessing an XL bully without an exemption certificate relating to Toretto and a female dog, called Malibu, found inside the house.

The trial continues.

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