Police dog attacks boy in back garden
A 10-year-old boy has been attacked by a West Midlands Police force dog while playing in the back garden of his grandmother's home.
Tom Cutbill was bitten three times by the dog in scenes which his grandmother described as 'like a horror movie.'
Police have apologised 'unreservedly' for the attack on the schoolboy who remained in hospital today being treated for leg injuries. He was bitten on his right leg in the incident in Oldbury and had to have stitches .
Police had been called to the area to carry out a search following a report of a theft at Langley Green train station. The German shepherd, Belgian malinios cross dog was helping a search of nearby New Henry Street and is believed to have followed Tom's uncle Gareth into the garden. He was on a leash.
Grandmother Bev Bakewell, 52, of New Henry Street, said: "Tom was playing in the back garden fixing his scooter in the shed.
"My son came in through the back door and then suddenly we started hearing screaming. I thought it was just children playing and then when I looked out the window there was a policeman out there with this great big dog and the dog had hold of Tom's leg."
The mother of three added: "It's like a horror movie, no-one can sleep, I don't think Tom will be able to play in my garden again, his mother and father are just devastated."
Tom, of Rowley Regis, was taken to Sandwell Hospital following the attack at 3pm on Sunday and was released last night.
West Midlands Police have informed the Independent Police Complaints Commission .
Chief Inspector Ian Marsh, said: "This poor young boy has gone through and absolutely horrendous ordeal and my thoughts are with him and his family. We apologise unreservedly for what has happened and have launched an investigation to fully understand exactly how an innocent young lad came to be bitten by a police dog in the safety of his own garden."
