Girl had 36 wounds after 'ferocious' dog attack

BBC A Devon and Cornwall Police car with the police logo in blue and fluorescent yellow. BBC
Devon and Cornwall Police seized eight dogs after the attacks

An 11-year-old girl and a woman suffered "lifelong physical and psychological scarring" after they were attacked by a pack of eight red Labrador dogs on a Devon farm, police have said.

The girl suffered 36 puncture wounds when she was set upon while, in a separate incident involving the same dogs, a 40-year-old woman suffered 11 wounds with "significant" injuries to her lower torso, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

The dogs belonged to 75-year-old John Hardy, from Coombeland Farm in Pennymoor, who admitted two counts of owning eight dogs which were dangerously out of control when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court on 13 January.

He was given a 15-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was also issued with a contingent dog destruction order for the remaining dogs at the farm and ordered to pay £5,000 to each of the victims.

'Incredible strength'

Police seized all eight animals and three of them were destroyed after the "ferocious attacks" which took place over a period of two months.

Investigating officer Police Constable Dylan Lowman said: "These two incidents have greatly impacted both the victims and their families.

"The victims have been left with lifelong physical and psychological scarring as a result of the attacks on themselves.

"It is only due to the incredible strength and courage of the victims and their families that John Hardy has been brought to justice for these crimes."

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