Jail warning for dog owner which ripped off woman's cheek in Huddersfield attack

Jul 29 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A FORMER doorman has been warned he could face jail after his illegal dog attacked a mother.

Waheed Akhtar had her face ripped open by the pitbull-type dog – and Huddersfield magistrates were told she has been left permanently disfigured.

Ms Akhtar, 26, suffered severe facial injuries when she was attacked by a pit bull-type dog on her Lockwood street in March.

At Huddersfield Magistrates Court yesterday, Wiqas Mahmud, 29, of Lockwood, admitted owning the dog which attacked the mother-of-two as she pushed her baby in a pram to the park.

His brother Shahid Mahmud, 35, of Golcar, was cleared of all charges.

Julian Briggs, prosecuting, said Wiqas Mahmud (pictured) had been in his yard tending to the dog called Troy when the animal broke its tether and ran off into Upper Mount Street.

The court heard that a few moments later the dog bit Ms Akhtar on the leg causing her to fall.

The dog, an illegal Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, then bit Ms Akhtar on the face tearing off her cheek.

Her sister Shaheen said at the time: “She will never look the same again.”

Mr Briggs said Mahmud, a man working nearby and others had to beat the animal repeatedly over the head with a shovel and other objects before it let go.

Ms Akhtar was taken to hospital with serious injuries. She spent several days in hospital and was given a skin graft from her thigh by specialists at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Mr Briggs said: “The large part of her face was ripped, leaving a bloody mess where her cheek was.

“This lady has had terrible injuries with a lot of permanent disfigurement.

“An expert has said the dog showed the hallmarks of being a prohibited Staffordshire Bull Terrier.”

In mitigation, Mr Marnat Ali said Mahmud was ‘mortified’ by the damage the dog had caused.