Accrington man set two Alsatian dogs on police

Blackburn magistrates heard the snarling dogs were trying to get out of the house after Stephen Smith had ordered them to be aggressive.

An officer told Smith if the dogs attacked they would be tasered.

Smith, of Malt Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Stephen Griffiths and PC Kerry Jervis by putting them in fear of violence. He was given a conditional discharge for four months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said the officers were responding to an allegation that Smith had assaulted another resident at the address.

“He was alleged to have smashed the house up and hit the other man with a golf club,” said Mrs Yates. “The supposed victim had an injury to his hand but said he hadn’t been assaulted. Smith said all three of the men who lived there had been fighting and the police arranged for an address for him to spend the night.”

At that point he got out of the police car and called his dogs, commanding them to be aggressive.

“They were trying to push their way out of the house and the defendant told the officers he would set the dogs on them,” said Mrs Yates. “Both the dogs were snarling and barking throughout.”

One of the other residents came back and got control of the dogs.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had mental health difficulties and the two other men in the house acted as his carers.

“There was some kind of disagreement which resulted in the police being called,” said Mr Price. “Everything was OK until the police suggested he go somewhere else for the night and at that point he became agitated.”

Mr Price said his client accepted he had said some silly things and that he encouraged the dogs to be protective of him and the house.

“He says he didn’t intend the officers to feel fear and he certainly didn’t intend to let the dogs attack the officers,” said Mr Price.