A vicious illegal pitbull that savaged an elderly Angus woman and killed her tiny dog is to be destroyed.
Sheriff John Halley sentenced Missy to death following the frenzied attack on a ”petite” papillon and her owner, Jacqueline Stewart (74).
Arbroath drug addict Derek Hutchins (28), who owns the blood-thirsty animal, may now be banned from keeping dogs and have his other pet, a Staffordshire bull terrier, taken away from him.
Mrs Stewart was bitten while trying to stop her dog, Holly, being slaughtered by the unlicensed canine in March, and was in Arbroath Sheriff Court on Thursday to hear the verdict.
During the attack in March, she could only watch in horror as the aggressive pitbull bolted into her back garden and sank its teeth into her beloved pet, shaking it violently.
The pensioner said Holly had been more like a child to her and claimed justice was yet to be done.
”I just wanted justice for my Holly but that will have to wait,” she said. ”The last few months have been absolutely horrendous and I will never get over it.”
Jacqueline’s husband Jim (79) said he was glad the court process was drawing to a close, adding: ”It is not the dog that is at fault here, it’s the owner.”
Hutchins, of Brothock Way, Arbroath, admitted that between August 1 2011 and June 14 this year, he had a pitbull in his possession, contrary to dangerous dogs legislation.
He further admitted that on March 31, at Sidlaw Avenue, Arbroath, he was the owner of a dog that ran into a garden belonging to Mrs Stewart, grabbed her dog in its teeth and shook it violently, causing injury so severe it had to be put down.
Hutchins also admitted the dog had bitten Mrs Stewart repeatedly on the body.
The court heard Mrs Stewart had been preparing to take Holly for a walk when the ”large and muscular” pitbull attacked.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said the pensioner was bitten on her left hand and forearm as she tried to intervene.
She added: ”The accused arrived and he tried to separate the dogs by pulling on their collars. He got the dogs separated and then apologised and walked away.”
Mrs Stewart was treated for puncture wounds to her hand and Holly was taken to Abbey Vets in Arbroath, where it was found she had sustained terrible injuries.
Ms Drummond said: ”A decision was taken to put he dog to sleep and Mrs Stewart contacted the police. She was extremely upset.”
Hutchins’ defence agent Nick Whelan said his client had been unaware the dog was an outlawed pitbull.
He added: ”He was gifted this dog as a puppy and was led to believe it was a cross-breed. It was less than a year old at the time of the offence and he was under the impression it was a Staffordshire bull terrier.”
Repeat offender Hutchins, who is on a methadone programme, did not object to the crown motion to have the dog destroyed.
Sheriff Halley said: ”I am seriously considering whether you should be disqualified from keeping a dog for a period.”
The sheriff deferred sentence until December 5.