Bickley: Owner of animal heavily fined as judge orders its destruction

A CROSS-BREED dog bit a seven-year-old wedding guest three times in the face, leaving him scarred for life.

The reception was under way at Bickley Manor Hotel, in Thornet Wood Road, Bickley, when the animal owned by bar waitress Bakiye Tashkiran turned nasty, Croydon Crown Court heard.

Prosecuting, Stephen McGrath said the boy, who cannot be named because of a court order, had been playing with other children in the hotel grounds while their parents were chatting nearby.

Suddenly, the 11-month-old dog, Heydut, lunged at the boy and bit him in the face.

Tashkiran, aged 36, of Meeting House Lane, Peckham, pleaded guilty to having a dog which caused injuries while dangerously out of control on June 2 last year.

The boy's mother had earlier complained to the waitress about Heydut knocking over another child but Tashkiran had claimed at the time the dog was friendly and liked children.

Ordering the dog's destruction, Judge Cedric Joseph said: "This child was badly injured and is likely to have a scar on his face for the rest of his life."

He added: "Hopefully, the scarring will fade to some extent."

Tashkiran was fined £100 and must pay £1,000 compensation to the boy, £332 costs and another £50 to pay a vet to put the dog down.

After the hearing, the boy's mother said: "We have still to decide whether to take a civil action.

"I don't really think this is the end of the matter.

"My son is still terrified of dogs."

July 16, 2002 12:00