Gospel Oak teenager gets suspended jail sentence after guide dog is mauled at train station

Wednesday February 24, 2010

By CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS

A BLIND woman whose guide dog was savaged and nearly killed by an out-of-control dog at Cricklewood train station has described the torture of being unable to see what was happening. 

The 57-year-old woman, who did not want her identity revealed, described the terrifying moment her brown Labrador Neela was attacked in an impact statement read out at the sentencing of the man responsible for the dangerous dog.

She said: “To be unable to see the attack was horrific and terrifying. What was to become of Neela, my faithful sighted guide dog and what of myself and my independence? In seconds both were being snapped away from me.”

The attack took place on Sunday October 4 last year at around lunchtime when the attack dog bolted away from its owner, John-Jo Madden, as he loitered in the station.

A three-minute assault on Neela by the terrier-type dog left her with a puncture mark to her neck which needed emergency treatment. She did not fight back or show any aggression, police said.

Her owner added: “She was being attacked and suffering tremendous pain and not knowing why. I felt tremendous guilt that Neela would associate the onslaught with me. It was a period of total isolation and fear.”

Mr Madden, 18, of Gospel Oak, was sentenced to three months suspended for two years and 150 hours of unpaid work at a hearing at Hendon Magistrates Court this week. He was banned from keeping dogs for 10 years and ordered to pay compensation of nearly £2,000 to the Guide Dogs Association and Neela’s owner. 

Detective Constable Gerry Griffin of British Transport Police said the incident had traumatised onlookers and shocked the nation.

He said: “This was a very sad case that shocked dog lovers across the country and clearly illustrates the importance of making sure that dogs are under the control of their owners at all times.”

Although a destruction order was issued for Mr Madden’s dog, the animal has gone missing after Mr Madden passed him on to a third party following the incident