Dog-lover needed plastic surgery after Rottweiler attack in Mansfield

Chloe Appleton-Goldstraw's three-year-old Rottweiler "Darcy" began barking continuously and baring its teeth as the female victim walked her daughter's 17-month-old cross Collie lurcher, on High Oakham Hill, at 12.30pm, on March 25.

Prosecutor Yaysa Hue described how the woman tried to keep herself between "Darcy" and her daughter's dog, worried that her “gentle family dog” would be seriously injured.

Appleton-Goldstraw' was trying to pull her dog back by the collar, and apologised. But "Darcy" jumped up and locked its jaws on the middle of the other woman’s right forearm.

She sustained two “large punctures” and was concerned about the amount of blood, said Ms Hue.

She was taken by ambulance to King's Mill Hospital where doctors said the injury was too wide to be treated. Plastic surgeons at the QMC in Nottingham operated and the victim spent two nights in hospital.

“She was told to use her hand as little as possible to prevent the stitches bursting,” said Ms Hue. “She was left unable to drive as a result and is now very wary for her safety.

“She said she has been a dog owner for 25 years and has never experienced anything like this. She hopes to overcome her current wariness of dogs.”

The court heard her daughter's dog was also treated for anxiety after the incident.

Adele McBride, mitigating, said “This case can’t move to sentence today because the dog needs to be looked at by a behaviour expert. You are dealing with quite an emotive matter.”

Ms McBride said there were differences between the prosecution’s case and the defendant’s account.

She said Appleton-Goldstraw was taking her dog to her sister's house and the Collie lurcher was also growling. The dogs were trying to get at each other while both owners tried to drag them apart.

The court heard she has no previous convictions.

Appleton-Goldstraw, 32, of Newton Street, Mansfield, admitted owning a dog that was dangerously out of control, when she appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Thursday.

Magistrates adjourned the case for reports on the defendant and the dog. Appleton-Goldstraw was granted unconditional bail until September 16.

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