Cumbria Police has been taking action against people for animal offences, including offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Deri Hendren, 40, of Fisher Street, Workington appeared at the towns Magistrates Court on 12 September where he was jailed for 12 weeks for offences under Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act. A case was brought due to the lack of basic care and appalling conditions in which dogs were being kept at his home address in Workington. On 10 November 2024, officers from Cumbria Police’s Dog Section seized three dogs following significant concerns for their welfare and a fourth was also found deceased at the property. Hendren was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody, banned from owning dogs for ten years, ordered to pay £500 in costs and a forfeiture order was issued removing him as the owner of the three dogs.
On Wednesday (24 Sept), Owen Carr, 34, appeared in court after being charged with possessing or having custody of a fighting dog – an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Carr - previously of Rowe Terrace in Workington - was appearing the day after being sentenced to prison for two-and-a-half years following a violent assault against a woman. Workington man jailed for violent attack on woman - Cumbria Constabulary The charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act followed an incident where officers attempted to arrest Carr and Carr tried to set his dog to attack the officer making the arrest. Carr admitted the offence. The court banned Carr from owning a dog for ten years. In reaching this decision, the court took into account Carr’s attempt to use the dog as a weapon, instructing it to attack the police officer, as well as Carr’s prior offending history. An order was also made for the destruction of the dog on the grounds it could constitute a danger to public safety. Carr was also sentenced to 27 days in prison for the offence and ordered to pay £500.
A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: “Cumbria Police will not hesitate to take action against people who abuse dogs or seek to use them as a weapon against other people. “The officer arresting Carr was able to remain calm in the face of the defendant’s attempts to make his dog attack, keeping Carr under control and the dog away until help arrived.”