A man who set his alsatian dog on a police officer has been warned by a sheriff that prison remains an “open option”.
The policeman suffered bites to his leg and buttock after Paul McRorie was heard to tell the animal to attack after officers called at his home just after midnight to investigate a noise complaint.
McRorie, of Drumachlie Park, Brechin, was previously found guilty after a trial at Forfar Sheriff Court of instructing the dog to attack the officer in the common stairwell of flats at Montrose Street, Brechin, last July, and of breaching the Dangerous Dogs Act by allowing the animal to be out of control and bite the policeman.
The 39-year-old returned to Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday for further consideration of the case following a deferral in the wake of the conviction.
Depute fiscal Hazel Anderson said a male and female constable had gone to the flat and were halfway up the stairs to the first floor when the door to the property opened.
They could see the accused standing behind the door and without warning he said “take him”, at which point the large white alsatian came out and bit the male officer.
The dog ran back inside and the female officer held the door shut while telling McRorie to get the dog, which could be heard running around inside the flat, under control.
Her fellow officer required treatment in hospital and was off work for nine days after suffering puncture wounds to his leg and severe bruising in the attack.
The dog was not destroyed, but McRorie’s solicitor Brian Bell told the court that it has now been taken away by the police following another incident.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio adjourned McRorie’s case until July 31 for a further criminal justice report to be obtained to investigate the possibility of a non-custodial disposal.
“A custodial disposal remains very much an open option for you at this time,” he told the accused.