A grandfather-of-nine faced having to put down his pet dachshund and five pugs today after they surrounded a postman and nipped at his legs – leaving him scarred for life.
Allen Parkinson, 75, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, was hauled into court after the six dogs escaped through his open French doors and set upon the mailman in September last year.
Mailman Steve Humphreys was attempting to deliver a package near the rear of the elderly man’s home.
Mr Humphreys ran back to his Royal Mail van in a bid to escape but the pack caught up with him as he was about to get into the vehicle and he was bitten on the arm and face.
Allen Parkinson, 75, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, faced court for his dogs’ attack on a postman last year. His pet dachshund and five pugs surrounded mailman Steve Humphreys and nipped at his legs
Two passersby intervened to prevent him being bitten further.
The postman went to A&E and was treated in hospital for four days during which he was given three face stitches and five stitches on his arm.
He subsequently had to take two months off work, is scarred for life and now has difficulties with his own pet dog at home.
At Stockport magistrates court, Greater Manchester, retired construction engineer Parkinson, 75, who has four children and nine grandchildren was warned he may have to put down all six pets under the terms of a destruction order after he admitted having dangerous dogs out of control.
A bulldog he owned which was also involved in the attack has already been put to sleep.
Inquiries revealed another dog Parkinson owned was put down in 2018 after it bit another postman.
The grandfather-of-nine admitted to having dangerous dogs out of control at Stockport Magistrates Court and now faces having to put down all six pets under the terms of a destruction order
Royal Mail officials now refuse to post letters at his £800,000 home in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
The latest incident occurred on September 22, 2019 after Mr Humphreys was on his rounds delivering letters.
Prosecutor Robin Lynch said: ‘The defendant owned five pugs, a bulldog cross, and a dachshund and lives in a large detached house. The postman saw there was something on the other side of some French doors and the dogs then came out and attacked him.
‘They bit his legs and he immediately began to run back to the van. But before he got there the larger dog bit his face and arm. He then called his manager saying dogs were surrounding him.
‘A man came out of the premises but didn’t make any attempts to see what had happened. Two separate members of the public did try to help him.
‘The matter was reported and the defendant attended a voluntary interview where he said he didn’t see what had happened and described the dogs as friendly.
‘He said he had seven dogs and that he didn’t know how they got out, and that they could have opened the door themselves.
Mr Humphreys ran back to his Royal Mail van in a bid to escape but the pack caught up with him as he was about to get into the vehicle and he was bitten on the arm and face – leaving him scarred for life. Royal Mail officials now refuse to post letters at his £800,000 home in Wilmslow, Cheshire (pictured)
‘He suggested the injury to the victim was not a bite but a scratch – but it clearly was a wound.
‘He said the injuries may have occurred on the fence which has sharp edges, or from a piece of wood sticking out from the fence.
‘The victim said the driveway did not have a gate and there were no warnings and is clear about that.
‘There was a previous incident about a year earlier where one of his dogs bit another postman. The information I have is that the defendant has shown no remorse at all for this offence ‘
In a statement Mr Humphreys told police: ‘This incident has had a massive impact on me. I have not slept well since it happened, get recurring nightmares about it and feel stressed.
‘I am anxious, emotional, get regular flashbacks and am doubting myself as a person.
‘I am finding it very hard to have our own dog at home and this is causing friction with my partner and son.
‘I have a constant reminder of the attack because of the permanent scarring I have been left with.’
In mitigation for Parkinson his lawyer Mr Forz Khan said: ‘He is retired and used to work in the construction industry.
The military often used him and he helped build an airport in the Falklands and has worked in Iraq.
He has had a very substantial career in construction and has been married for 51 years.
Parkinson had a ‘no entry’ sign on the dog enclosure and his lawyer sad if the postman had followed the sign ‘we would not be here today’
‘They have four adult children aged 43, 44, 45 ad 47 and have nine grandchildren aged between eighteen months and fifteen years. This whole affair has been a very traumatic episode for him.
‘The fact of his appearances at court have given him and his wife sleepless nights and have caused him to be nauseous and unable to eat.
‘A few days before the incident his wife broke her legs in three places by tripping on some tiles in the kitchen. At the time of the incident itself she was in the lounge with her legs up on a chair in a plaster whilst the defendant was having lunch in the kitchen.
‘Their regular postman whom they had had for several years used to come to the door but this one didn’t and stopped at their dog enclosure. If he had remained there this incident would not have occurred.
‘His wife told him the postman was coming to the dog enclosure and the postman opened it despite there being a very clear ‘no entry’ sign.
‘Dogs are, like people, very territorial. If someone came and sat in the magistrates lounge you would raise an eyebrow. That enclosure is the dogs’ area and that is why there is a no entry sign there.
‘But the postman went in and the dogs were worried and were protecting their area and they tried to defend it.
‘The bulldog who bit the victim was put down that day and the dog who bit another postman last year was also put down on the day of that incident. Members of the public were never threatened and helped the defendant put the dogs back in their enclosure.
‘Those dogs are like family to this family. Since the incident the gates can only be opened from the inside and the Post Office no longer deliver their mail- they go to the shop to get it. The victim is already pursuing a civil claim and double recovery is wrong. He should get the right amount – not the right amount plus some more.
The bulldog he owned who was also involved in the attack and bit the victim was put down that day (stock image)
‘What more could the defendant do he had a no entry sign and if the postman had followed the sign we would not be here today. The dogs were only out of control for a few seconds and had never bitten anyone before. There is no reason to fear this could happen again.
‘If this defendant were to apply to become a magistrate he would meet the criteria. This is a man with a good employment history why he served his country nationally and internationally. He is ideally suited to sit as a magistrate.
‘He did everything he could have done to make sure no harm was done. The no entry sign would have been clear to anyone with two eyes.’
Adjourning the case JP Larry Collier said: ‘We need to take advice as to whether a destruction order is needed and wish to adjourn this matter so a new bench can have evidence the dogs do not pose a danger in future.’
He told Mr Khan: ‘You say anyone is able to read signs. Children cannot always do this and do not always understand warnings. There should be control of the animals in that place.
‘Your argument is not sufficient evidence that the dogs can be controlled. We have to adjourn so the defendant can obtain third party evidence about whether the dogs can be controlled.’
‘The expert will assess whether or not they are a danger to the public.’
The case was adjourned until December. Parkinson declined to comment after the hearing.