XL Bully owner jailed after child bitten four times

A Llandudno Junction man has been imprisoned after holding an XL Bully by its collar before releasing the animal, which then attacked a child four times.

Scott Gallagher, 59, was at a property with the dog – named Tyson – when he let go of the animal’s collar and it sank its teeth into a child’s arm. The 59-year-old “did nothing to help” during the attack, Caernarfon Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

Katie Taylor, 40, who lived at the same Walton Road address as Gallagher, pulled the dangerous dog away from the injured child. The youngster was taken to a neighbouring house before emergency services arrived.

Medical staff treated four wounds on the child, who underwent an operation the following day to have the injuries cleaned and stitched.

Both defendants admitted owning a dog dangerously out of control which caused injury, along with child cruelty offences relating to the 2024 incident.

Sentences handed down

His Honour Timothy Petts jailed Gallagher for 22 months for the dog offence and six months consecutively for child cruelty – a total of 28 months imprisonment.

Taylor received 18 months for the dog offence and six months for child cruelty, but both terms were suspended for two years. She must complete a 12-month mental health treatment programme and undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

The court ordered the destruction of both Tyson the XL Bully and the defendants’ Pit Bull Terrier, Caesar. Gallagher and Taylor were each banned from owning dogs for 15 years.

Mitigation and intervention

Tom McLoughlin, defending Gallagher, told the court his client feels “a genuine and real sense of remorse”. The defendant has a physical disability after being run over by a lorry, had been prescribed morphine for his injuries and developed an addiction, though he has since been weaned off it onto a less addictive medication.

Catherine Elvin, representing Taylor, said her client’s intervention deserved credit. She told the court: “She jumped on Tyson, bit it and forced him to release his grip.” Taylor is also remorseful for her role in the incident.