Dog owner sets staffie on man outside Brighton shopping centre

A dog owner set his Staffordshire bull terrier on another man outside Churchill Square shopping centre in Brighton.

Carlton Honeybun, 50, of Selsfield Drive, Brighton, used his dog Reg to attack his 27-year-old victim and his pet after being asked to put the staffie on a lead.

The victim had asked Honeybun to restrain his dog after it began acting aggressively towards his own pet outside Churchill Square.

Honeybun was convicted of having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court.

The court was told that the victim suffered a bite to his hand and his dog suffered bite injuries to its face during the attack at about 7.45pm on Friday 20 September.

Honeybun then set his dog on the victim and his animal.

He was given a suspended six-month prison sentence. His dog was made the subject of a control order which means that it must be muzzled and on a lead when it is in public.

Honeybun will also be monitored by staff from the Sussex Police dogs unit to ensure that he is not breaching the order.

Inspector Di Lewis, the head of force’s dog unit, said: “The dangerous dogs legislation is useful because it allows us to keep track of animal owners who allow their pets to be out of control.

“We will make regular contact with Honeybun and speak to dog wardens to see if there are further reports of his animal being off the lead or behaving dangerously.

“If it is, he will be in breach of the order and we will be able to prosecute him.

“Dog owners made the subject of these orders often comply with them because they do not want to lose their pets.

“But we still need the public to tell us if they see dogs out of control so we can take action.”

Anyone with information about dangerous dogs can phone Sussex Police on 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk.