A dog owner has narrowly avoided jail after his crazed XL Bully savaged an 11-year-old girl and two men in the street in Birmingham.
The youngster and her older sister were out shopping in Bordesley Green, when the beast – named Tyson – went berserk and attacker her on September 9 last year. The girl, whose identity is protected by a court order, was rushed to hospital after suffering from shoulder and arm injuries.
The horror was captured in video footage which shocked the nation, prompting then Home Secretary Suella Braverman to call on banning the breed. Farhat Ajaz, 61, previously admitted being in control of the dangerous dog at Birmingham Crown Court in March this year.
On Friday he appeared at the same court where he was sentenced to two years in jail, suspended for two years. Sentencing, Judge Heidi Kubik said: “You were out and about in the street with the dog. The dog was not muzzled at the time. It set about attacking three separate people including an 11-year-old girl.
“It was a horrific attack and she was undoubtedly and rightly terrified. She was left with scars on her arm and shoulder, as well as the psychological impact on her. Those who intervened also received injuries.”
She said Ajaz, who had previously served 25 years of a life sentence, would have been sent immediately to jail but for a “catalogue” of serious deteriorating health conditions.
In a terrifying video of the attack, the hound can be seen going on the rampage after it had “broken free from its flimsy collar”. The alarming footage then shows two men – Numaan Ahmed and Yousef Ahmadzai – rushing to intervene before they are bitten themselves.
In a statement, the girl said: “I felt so terrified when the dog was biting me. I did not know where she was going to bite me next. I was scared it was going to kill me. The dog was so strong. I was scared and shouting for help. The dog bit me on the arm and shoulder.
“There was a lot of blood. The scars remind me every day of what happened. I was scared of dogs before and this has made it much worse. I am now really scared when I see a dog in public and scared to walk to the local shops.”
Prosecutor Rob Cowley said “This offence took place on September 9, 2023. Despite it being September it was a particularly hot day. People were out in T shirts. The defendant was sitting at a bus stop in Bordesley Green Road with a dog called Tyson at his feet. The dog was on a lead but it would appear it had a flimsy collar. The girl noticed the dog and that it was not muzzled. Her impression was that the dog was on a lead.
“She was plainly nervous and moved towards buildings to avoid the dog. As she passed the dog she started to run and at that point the dog ran after her biting her lower arm, spinning her around, bringing her to the floor and dragging her about. The power of the dog is plainly shown on CCTV. A number of people bravely intervened and the dog let go of her arm but despite that the dog was able to grab her shoulder.”
Mr Cowley said one of the men who tried to help was Numaan Ahmed who said he noticed that the defendant appeared to be “physically weak.” He had run towards a petrol station forecourt pursued by the XL Bully which was “closing him down.”
He added: “He got to the forecourt and the dog latched onto his shoulder and did so with such force that it took him to the floor. While the dog was ragging him he described being in excruciating pain. He knew he had to get up and managed to do so.”
Mr Cowley said that at one point the dog had been “hanging from his arm” and Mr Ahmed had feared the dog was going to kill him.
He told the court how Yousef Ahmadzai had tried to attack the dog with a snow shovel and had been bitten on the leg. Ekwal Tiwana, defending, said Ajaz was sentenced to life at the age of 15 and was released in 2004 when he attempted to reintegrate himself back into society.
He said the defendant had “stupidly” bought the animal for his son who had been incapable of looking after the dog and so he had taken Tyson under his care for about two to three months.
He added that his client suffered from conditions including obstructive pulmonary disease and lung disease. He said Ajaz had tried his best to try and stop the dog and that he had suffered a heart attack while being taken to hospital.
He added: “We know that the defendant should not have been in control of that dog because of h is health concerns.” Ajaz pleaded guilty to three counts of being in charge of the “dangerously out of control” dog which caused injury to a young girl who was bitten by the animal.
The dog was placed into secure kennels after being seized by West Midlands Police and taken to a local vet with heat exhaustion. His sentence consists of 18 months for the dog attack and six months for harassment of his previous partner.
The court heard that in 2022 Ajaz had also visited his former partner’s home on a number occasions and had threatened to kill her after demanding to see his son.
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