Judge convicted over dangerous dog storms out of court

A JUDGE swore and stormed out of court when she was convicted of failing to control her dangerous dog.

Judge Beatrice Bolton, of Rothbury, Northumberland, strode out when the verdict was announced, branding the decision “a f**king travesty”.

Bolton, 57, was found guilty by a judge sitting at Carlisle Magistrates Court of allowing her pet German Shepherd to bite 20-year-old Frederick Becker, her neighbour.

Bolton was heard yelling: “I’ll never set foot in a court again,” from outside the courtroom.

Bolton was fined £2,500 (€2,943) and ordered to pay £275 (€323) compensation to the victim, plus £930 (€1,094) court costs and a £15 (€17.66) surcharge.

District Judge Gerald Chalk said the case had been proved.

“Mr Becker was not only put in fear but was actually injured by the dog in question.”

He asked Bolton to apologise for her outburst to the court. She said: “I’m sorry.”

Speaking outside the court, she said she would appeal against the conviction. Bolton, who was asked by the court usher during the two-day-trial to stop chewing gum, had denied a single charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

She was labelled “the neighbour from hell” by Becker’s parents David and Anne Malia.

The Malias and Bolton lived in adjoining properties and had been friends for years. But their relationship soured over the rights to the homes’ shared back gardens and the behaviour of Bolton’s dog.

The Malias clashed repeatedly with the judge, demanding she keep the German Shepherd, named Georgina, tethered up.

They described living “in terror” of the animal and kept a “dog log” of incidents in which the pedigree animal strayed on to their land.

Their son, Frederick “Fritz” Becker was lying on the lawn at his parents’ home when the then seven-month-old bitch went for him on May 31.

He was left bleeding and bruised after the pet charged towards him barking then bit his leg.

CCTV cameras trained on the Malias’ property showed the dog dash towards Becker, of Fawdon, Newcastle, then bite or claw at him.

The student, who is studying politics at Sunderland University, said he was talking on his mobile to his girlfriend when he heard barking.

He said: “When it did bite me I had gotten up because I was lying on the ground and it could have gone for my face if it had wanted to.”

Bolton apologised to him immediately after the attack.

Becker’s wound was checked at Rothbury Community Hospital but did not require treatment.

His father David Malia, who is a parish councillor in Whitton, in Rothbury, said: “We never wanted the dog on our property. We were scared of it.”