Woman sentenced for XL Bully attacks at Willow Park, Newton-le-Willows

Amanda Wilkie narrowly avoided being sent to prison despite her “catalogue of irresponsibility” as the two dogs embarked on their vicious attacks at Willow Park, in Newton-le-Willows, on August 17 last year.

Wilkie had been on Crown Court bail at the time of the offences, having been charged in relation to the stabbing of her then partner on April 14, 2023.

She was later given a 15-month suspended sentence for unlawful wounding, last October the court heard.

Wilkie, of Southworth Road, Newton-le-Willows, pleaded guilty to two counts of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, and two counts of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control in relation to the attacks at Willow Park. 

The attacks happened at Willow Park, last year (Image: Google Maps)

However, the 44-year-old again avoided being sent to prison as the judge accepted her “personal mitigation”.

XL bullies launch attack at Willow Park

Prosecuting, Simran Garcha told Liverpool Crown Court at Thursday’s sentencing hearing (July 25) that on August 17 last year, Wilkie was “in possession” of two XL Bullies, Mavis and Missy, at Willow Park.

“At around 6pm both dogs were able to get out (from their lead) and out of control.

“The dogs have attacked the victims and their dogs, biting them several times. The victims tried to fight off the dogs to protect their own dogs”.

Ms Garcha told the court that the XL Bullies had “first attacked” a woman and her dog. She said this person is “not before the court” and “didn’t support prosecution”.

Ms Garcha added: “The dogs then encountered Tracey Heyhurst and Christine Potts sat on a bench.

“The dogs attacked and bit one of their dogs.”

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The court heard Ms Potts “tried to fight off Mavis, however was bitten to the face” and also bitten on her lip and finger.  

Ms Heyhurst and Ms Potts then “picked her dogs up off the floor and put them on top of a bin, however the XL Bully continued to try and jump up and attack the dogs”.

Ms Garcha added: “The defendant then tried to move the two XL Bully dogs away stating ‘they were not her dogs, they didn’t belong to her.’”

The court heard that Ms Potts said “the defendant appeared drunk at the time, slurring her words".

Ms Potts and Ms Heyhurst managed to “get out of the area” and “took refuge in a nearby van”.

Christine Potts was badly injured in one of the attacks (Image: Submitted)

Ms Garcha said the other victim Jaqueline Mahoney entered the park and “heard a woman screaming” who was the defendant, who “told her not to go further as there were dogs being aggressive”.

Ms Mahoney dialled 999 and “saw the two XL Bullies at the top of stairs".

Ms Garcha added: “The dogs came down towards where she (Ms Mahoney) was with her dog and attacked her dog”.

Ms Garcha said Wilkie then reappeared and tried to move away with one of the XL Bullies and the other “continued to attack Ms Mahoney’s dog”.

At one point Ms Mahoney “grabbed” the collar of one of the XL Bullies and “tried to stop the XL chasing her dog” which caused her to “lose her balance and her footing” and she was “dragged around the stairs due to the weight and power” of the XL Bully.

Ms Mahoney's dog Scooby was injured (Image: Submitted)

Ms Garcha said when the police arrived at the park they recognised one of the XL Bullies and “attended the home address of the defendant”.

Wilkie went home after attacks and 'drank alcohol'

The court heard Wilkie was not immediately arrested and was later interviewed voluntarily four and a half months later, on January 2 this year.

She admitted to being in control of the dogs and stated the dogs had become free from the collars and leads and she left the park to go back to her home address to retrieve stronger collars and leads, the court was told.

While at home she said she had an alcoholic drink and didn’t return to retrieve the dogs.

Wilkie said the XL Bullies “belonged to her ex-partner”.

The court heard in a victim impact statement read out by Ms Garcha on behalf of Christine Potts, that she was left needing hospital treatment from the attack and has suffered from PTSD and feels “the incident will have an effect on me for the rest of my life”.

Defence: Wilkie has made 'excellent progress' on alcohol problem

Defending Wilkie, Louise Santamera said her client had been to a “family funeral” on the day of the attacks and had “a couple of drinks” but “doesn’t accept she was staggeringly drunk”.

Ms Santamara said Wilkie had become “de facto responsible” for the XL Bullies, who belonged to her ex-partner who she was prohibited from contacting under bail conditions after the wounding incident in April last year.

She said Wilkie had asked police to request her ex-partner make arrangements for the dogs but “it seems police didn’t take any action”.   

Ms Santamera added that Wilkie “accepts she should have been more responsible” and said her client had “alcohol problems”, of which the “abusive relationship” she had with her ex-partner was the “underlying cause”.

It was said Wilkie had made “excellent progress” under the suspended sentence order she received last October over the wounding attack on her ex-partner and had been “sober” for eight months.

Ms Santamera said immediate custody would mean her positive progress “would be undone” and that Wilkie is “a realistic prospect of rehabilitation”.

A 'catalogue of irresponsibility'

Passing sentence, judge Brian Cummings KC said the attacks at Willow Park represent “a catalogue of irresponsibility” from Wilkie.

He said: “You are not a big person, you are a slight woman. You went out with two large dogs, you had no proper collar and lead and were under the influence of alcohol.

“And, very seriously, you abandoned the dogs at the scene, you left others to deal with the situation as best they could. There were children at the park, though not affected, very fortunately for all concerned.

“You were on Crown Court bail at the time and that is an aggravating factor,” judge Cummings added.

Wilkie received a suspended jail sentence at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: St Helens Star)

The judge said he took into account Wilkie’s “personal mitigation” and that the offence was nearly a year ago.

He added: “Were you in breach of the suspended sentence order then of course you would be going to prison” adding “that isn’t the position”, with Wilkie’s suspended sentence for the wounding incident only being passed in October, more than two months after the dog attacks.

Wilkie's jail sentence suspended

Judge Cummings said to Wilkie, who was wearing a pink and black jumper in the dock: “In my judgement, the balance in this case just comes down in your favour, I’m going to make a further suspended sentence order.”

The gave the 44-year-old two concurrent jail terms of 10 months, both suspended for two years for the counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

She must also do 10 days of rehabilitation activity and 200 hours of unpaid work.

No separate penalties were passed for the two counts of being in control of a dangerously out of control dog.

The judge ordered Wilkie, who is on benefits, to pay £500 compensation to Ms Potts and £300 to Ms Mahoney, stating regret the figures were not higher but the court was limited by the defendants’ means.

A separate hearing will be held on Tuesday, August 27 to determine whether the XL bullies will be put down and if Wilkie, who has three smaller canines of her own, is to be banned from owning a dog.