Cardiff man spared jail after dog bit officer twice

A police officer attending a suspected burglary was left with permanent scars after being bitten twice by a pocket bully who jumped at her inside a Cardiff home.

PC Jessica Porter had been called to Phillip Williams’s house in Cymric Close, Ely, in the early hours of 27 January last year following reports of an attempted break-in. After initially standing guard outside, the 54-year-old allowed her into the property around 3.45am.

What happened next saw the officer attacked by Williams’s three-year-old pocket bully, Lola. Growling could be heard from the living room before Williams opened the door and the dog charged at PC Porter. The animal leapt at her, biting down hard on her left thigh and causing what she described as a “sharp shooting” pain. Despite Williams’s attempts to call Lola back, the dog attacked again – this time sinking its teeth into the officer’s right thigh.

PC Porter was forced to kick the animal off before Williams finally regained control. He apologised immediately, but the damage was done. The officer later revealed the attack has left her with likely permanent scarring and ongoing anxiety whilst carrying out her duties.

This wasn’t Williams’s only brush with the law last year. Just months later in June, he was spotted on CCTV brandishing a knife in the street whilst shouting at another man in Ely. Police had been called to reports of someone walking up and down the road with a blade.

At Newport Crown Court, Williams admitted two counts of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog causing injury, plus possessing a bladed article in public. His criminal record shows 50 previous convictions spanning theft, acquisitive offending, and possessing offensive weapons.

Defence barrister Jac Brown fought against having Lola destroyed, arguing the dog had been stressed by the break-in and the police presence that night. Since the attack, Lola has spent 11 months in kennels without incident and assessments have not flagged her as aggressive. Mr Brown insisted the dog “did not pose a risk to the public”.

Regarding the knife incident, the barrister explained Williams had reacted after someone stamped on his methadone prescription. He described his client as a “recovering drug addict” who has weaned himself off heroin and hopes to leave the Ely area.

Recorder Ben Blakemore handed Williams a six-month sentence for the dog attack and 12 weeks for the knife possession – both suspended for 12 months. He must also complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Lola escaped a destruction order but now faces strict conditions: she must wear a box-style muzzle, flat nose collar, and leash whenever in public, and cannot be walked by anyone under 16.