Girl, 7, lives in house without mirrors after dog attack left her disfigured

A Corby dog attacked and bit a seven-year-old girl in the “face and throat” which left her with severe injuries requiring surgery, a court heard.

Costin Gibson, 23, of Yates Close, Corby, appeared at Northampton Magistrates Court admitting one charge of owning a dog dangerously out of control.

The incident happened on June 6 last year when the mother of the girl went to a property to pick up the child.

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She was let into the address and the victim was to the left of her when the dog came through.

The child then “stroked the dog who she had seen before” before the two-year-old Cane Corso, named Randy, launched a sickening attack.

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Frances Love, prosecuting, said: “The dog barked and they looked down and realised that the dog had bitten her.

“She was taken out of the house into the streets to look at her injuries. Her mother took her top off to put it on the wound to stop the bleeding.”

The mother ran outside and started shouting for an ambulance to be called, with the daughter left with severe injuries to her face and throat.

Eventually, they ended up getting into their car and driving to the hospital.

She says the incident caused “a lot of trauma” and they needed to go back the next day for surgery – with the victim suffering scarring.

In a victim impact statement, the girl’s mother said since the incident she “can’t look herself in the mirror” and they have removed them all from the house.

She said: “This has made her go into herself even more. We have our own dogs and we have taught her not all dogs are the same.

“She went to a friend’s house wearing a mask but had the courage to take it off.

“After the incident, staff explained to the pupils what has happened to avoid any bullying.

“She has to wear surgical plasters on her face every day to school to help with the healing process.

“She is happy about it because they cover her scars and is very aware that she looks different.

“If the plasters fall off, she walks around covering her face with her hand. When the incident first happened she slept in our bed and still has nightmares.

“It has affected our whole family including our older daughter who will not go near any big dogs. When she hears a dog barking it reminds her.”

Both the seven-year-old’s mum and her husband have to take time off work to look after her.

She added: “As a parent, I even had questions asked if the dog bit her because she’s a bad person.

“I have a new responsibility to build my child’s self-confidence. I also had to have a conversation with my child about what happens if she gets bullied.

“The dog injured my child and nearly caused her to lose her sight.

“This shows how close my child came to losing her life. She will need to have further surgery to assist with the scarring.”

The court heard that Gibson was not at his home address due to work when the incident occurred.

However, he took full responsibility as Randy’s owner and is “very remorseful for this accident” and was “very shocked” when he found out what happened.

Aleksandra Sobieraj, mitigating, said: “Mr Gibson has had Rand since he was a puppy and he is now two years old.

“He explains Randy has never acted in a way which could cause him any worries or concerns with his temperament.

“There have never been any accidents and Randy has never been aggressive towards anyone or towards other animals.

“Randy was taken to puppy classes and socialised, living in the house with Mr Gibson’s three sisters and his mother.”

Gibson has been in contact with the dog kennels where Randy is currently being held.

Miss Sobieraj added: “He was informed Randy has settled in well and has been a pleasure to care for.

“He was informed the kennel manager described Randy as a ‘Labrador puppy stuck in Cane Corso body’.

“He was described as very sweet with all his handlers and enjoys coming out for play. What has happened was an accident and could not have been foreseen.”

Sentencing, magistrates ordered Gibson to pay £2,500 in compensation and made him subject to a community order for one year.

He must carry out unpaid work for 100 hours within the next twelve months, along with court costs of £180.

The dog must also be kept on a lead when out at all times by someone aged over 16 and fitted with a muzzle.

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