Man fined and order placed on dog after two Yorkshire terriers killed

A 27-year-old man must pay over £1,100 in compensation and fines, after two Yorkshire terriers were killed in Thetford Forest last year. The dog involved must now be kept muzzled and on a lead.

Harry Harper, of Tickham Lane, Lynsted, near Sittingbourne in Kent, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 11 July, where he was ordered to pay £800 compensation, a £162 fine, £130 victim surcharge, and £85 costs. 

He was also issued with a Contingent Destruction Order (Proper Control) in respect of a dog – a large black cane corso – with the following directions:

• The dog must be neutered as soon as a vet agrees it can be done
• It must be securely fitted with a muzzle sufficient to prevent it biting any person
• It must be securely held on a lead by a person who is not less than 16-years-old

If these orders are not adhered to, then action will follow for the dog to be destroyed. Harper had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control.

The incidents occurred on Wednesday 4 October 2023, when at around 6.15pm a woman was out walking her two Yorkshire terriers – called Mia and Minnie - along Fire Route 4, near Brandon.

A short time later, while the terriers were sniffing around, a large black dog appeared – which transpired was a cane corso - and began chasing Mia. Whilst this was happening the Terriers’ owner lost sight of Minne but could hear her screaming nearby. 

Mia ran towards her owner who attempted to pick her up, but the cane corso then picked Mia up in its mouth, at which point a second large black dog – another cane corso – appeared and began chasing the first one, which was running around with Mia in its mouth.

Harper and a woman then appeared whilst the Cane Corso continued to hold Mia in its mouth. Harper then managed to get Mia back and handed her to her owner, but she died in her arms.

Minnie could not be located and so the owner returned home, distraught at what had happened. She returned to the forest later that evening with a neighbour to search for Minne but could not find her.

Minnie was subsequently found deceased by a man who voluntarily searched the forest and her body was returned to her owner.

CCTV captured Harper and the woman walking with the two cane corsos along Highbury Road towards the forest at 6.22pm and then walking away along the same road at 7.20pm.

Following a police media appeal regarding the incident issued on Thursday 5 October, Harper called Suffolk police the following day and said that he was walking the dogs that had been involved in the incident.

Harper was voluntarily interviewed under caution on 21 October and stated that he did not own the dog that had picked Mia up (which was named Tammy), but it was one he had been looking after.

This dog was from the same litter as other dog which was present (named John), which he did own. Tammy had been returned to the breeder the day after the incident and the Contingent Destruction Order has been issued in relation to Tammy.

PC Georgia Goreham, of the Forest Heath Response Investigation Team, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident for the victim, who was understandably devastated at the death of her two dogs in this manner.

“This incident also caused a lot of concern in the local community, so I hope this outcome demonstrates that we will take positive action wherever possible with cases such as this.

“This should serve as a stark warning to people that if you are walking a dog that is not yours, or whose temperament you cannot be certain of, then it is imperative to keep it under control and on a lead at all times.”