A Wallington postman is still off work more than three weeks after being viciously attacked by a dog while on his delivery round.

Jeff Sherwin, who is deaf and dumb, was so badly bitten by the dog while delivering post to a house in Chestnut Close, Carshalton, that he was taken to hospital. He received treatment for his wounds and needed stitches to his leg and hand.

Mr Sherwin has not been able to return to work since the attack, which took place around the middle of last month.

A Consignia spokesman said a letter had been sent to the owner of the dog which attac-ked Mr Sherwin, advising her to keep the animal under control.

"If she fails to comply with the letter, we will have to suspend deliveries to that address. It is not something we want to enforce but we don't want to compromise the safety of our postmen.

"There are around 6,000 animal attacks on our employees each year, mostly from dogs."

The spokesman added that Mr Sherwin had been offered an alternative delivery round but was unable to comment as to what type of dog had been involved in the incident.

"Obviously Mr Sherwin's deafness means he will be unable to hear an audible warning from the same dog if it tries to attack him again."

The attack has appalled residents who have known Mr Sherwin as their regular postman since he joined the Wallington Delivery Office four years ago.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said that neighbours were horrified to learn Mr Sherwin had been attacked by the dog.

"We were told about the attack by a replacement postman who said the dog was really vicious.

"What worries me is that if it had happened to a child or an old person, they could have been killed."

July 8, 2002 10:00