Man who stabbed dog in head ordered to pay £500
A man who stabbed a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in the head has been ordered to pay more than £500 after appearing in court.
Karl Ricketts, of Lichfield Street, Walsall, returned to the bedsit flat he had been living in on on January 9 and found two people there who he told a court he didn't know.
The two people, a man and a woman, had two dogs with them, both Staffordshire Bull Terriers and when Ricketts asked them to leave one of the dogs bit him.
In an effort to fend off the dog, Ricketts 'grabbed the closest thing to hand' which was a six-inch carving knife, and stabbed it in the top of the head, resulting in a cut that was seven centimetres wide and 10 centimetres deep.
Luckily, the dog didn't suffer any significant long lasting damage as a result of the attack.
Ricketts pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal damage to property in relation to the attack at Walsall Magistrates Court.
Prosecuting, Mr Tim Talbot-Webb, said: "The defendant has gone back to his bedsit to discover two people were there, he says he didn't know them and this was done without permission.
"When he demanded that they leave, one of the two Staffordshire bull terriers that were with them bit the defendant.
"The owner of the dog maintained that his pet didn't bite the defendant but it has been proved since that he did.
"He stabbed it one to the head causing a huge laceration, at which point the owner ran out of the property and immediately took his dog to the vets.
"Luckily, there was no neurological damage caused to the dog, which has made a full recovery."
Defending, Mrs Seama Kapoor said: "The dog wouldn't get off his arm and he picked up the closest thing to hand.
"He is deeply remorseful and knows he will have to pay today.
"The defendant does suffer with mental health problems.
"He didn't know the people and it all happened very quickly so it was hard for him to take stock of his emotions and think, he simply reacted."
Ricketts was ordered to pay £400 in compensation and a victim surcharge of £115 by Mrs Caroline Stride, chief magistrate.
He was also given an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
She said: "We believe this does cross the custody threshold but due to your mental health issues we are able to suspend it."
