An owner whose dog attacked two people in St Paul’s Cray in the space of 24 hours begged judges “don’t kill him”. 

Charlie Hull’s white Bull Terrier type dog named Monty mauled a Sainsbury’s driver’s leg at Longbury Drive on May 11, then the next day it attacked a man as he left Co-op on Cotmandene Crescent. 

Hull, 22, appeared at London’s dog court on Thursday (October 3) and pleaded guilty to charges of being the owner and person in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control causing injury. 

Prosecutor Edward Kalber read a police statement from the delivery driver, which said: “I finished my delivery and made my way out of the block to the rear of my van when the customer came back out and asked me a general question about the shopping. As we were talking I heard a dog barking and saw it running towards us.” 

The delivery driver described how he kicked the dog away when it tried to bite his leg, but the dog continued to attack and bit the inside of his thigh causing him to fall over. 

The attack continued while he was on the ground before Hull managed to regain control of the dog, Mr Kalber said. 

The driver took himself to Princess Royal Hospital for treatment on five separate cuts to his legs, the court heard. 

The next day Hull’s pregnant girlfriend was holding Monty on the lead outside Co-op while Hull was inside, the court heard. 

When a man left the shop the dog pulled free and charged at him. 

The man told police: “This dog started howling and coming towards me.” 

It scratched him multiple times then bit his leg, he said. 

A 999 call was made and the shopper was taken to Princess Royal Hospital by ambulance. 

Prosecutor Mr Kalber urged magistrates to order the destruction of the dog and to ban Hull from keeping dogs in the future. 

But Hull begged the magistrates not to put Monty down, telling them “my dog saved my life”. 

Hull explained: “On September 22 my house was burgled and I was stabbed 18 times. I was practically dead on the floor and I don’t know how I survived, my dog has massively helped me since.” 

He added: “None of us would be better if we didn’t make mistakes. It makes us better people. I don’t put this on my dog, it’s my mistake. I should have been in control of him. 

“I trusted my dog too much because I love him, but if I get him back he will never be off the lead.” 

Hull, of Longbury Drive, has nine previous convictions for 24 offences, the last matter being in 2020 for possession of a knife and conspiracy to commit burglary. 

He told magistrates he’s turned his life around and hasn’t been arrested in five years. 

Sheila Darr, chair of a bench of magistrates, adjourned sentencing for a pre-sentence report.  

The decision over whether to dog should be put down will also be made at the next hearing. 

“The bench has serious concerns about your dog Monty. The reasons being that he attacked one person one day and another person the next. Whether you think the attack was severe or not, it’s the aggressiveness that concerns us,” Ms Darr said.  

“Be under no illusions that these are really serious matters, we have a duty to protect the public.”