Woman unable to take dogs out for walk after brutal XL bully attack

At around 6pm on Thursday, August 17, last year Christine Potts was among the victims who were attacked by the dogs at Willow Park, Newton-le-Willows.

Christine had been sat on a bench, with Tracey Heyhurst, with their Papillon and West Highland Terrier, when the shocking incident happened.

At Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, Amanda Wilkie, of Southworth Road, Newton-le-Willows, who had been in charge of the two XL bullies, Mavis and Missy, was given a suspended prison sentence.

Wilkie, 44, had 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.

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

The attacks happened at Willow Park (Image: Google Street View)

The dogs, having already attacked another woman, encountered Tracey Heyhurst and Christine Potts sat on a bench.

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”.

Wilkie then tried to move the two XL Bully dogs away stating “they were not her dogs, they didn’t belong to her.”

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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”.

Another victim, Jaqueline Mahoney, was also attacked, leading to her being “dragged around the stairs” after she grabbed the collar of one of the dogs.

Victim: 'This will have an effect for rest of my life'

In a victim personal statement by Christine Potts read out to the court by prosecuting barrister Ms Garcha, it was said she suffered a “puncture wound requiring hospital treatment”.

This added: “Since the attack I am suffering on a daily basis” and “I don’t take my dogs out like I used to”.

In the statement, Ms Potts added: “My physical wounds have healed but I don’t think my mental wellbeing will ever be the same.

“I have flashbacks and nightmares shouting out”.

Christine Potts after being attacked at Willow Park (Image: Submitted)

It was said Ms Potts has been diagnosed with PTSD and had therapy for this.

“I feel vulnerable and intimidated while out walking my dogs as I used to like Willow Park but I haven’t been able to go back there.”

Ms Potts said she had always been a “big lover” but has been left “terrified of big dogs”.

It was said the incident has taken her love of “the outdoors and being in nature with my dogs”.

Ms Potts added: “No-one should ever have to go through what I did” stating “this will have an effect on me for the rest if my life”.

Wilkie showed 'catalogue of irresponsibility'

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

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

The judge 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.

Wilkie was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday (Image: Stock)

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 different breeds of her own, is to be banned from owning a dog.