73-year-old sentenced for ordering dog to attack Cambridgeshire Police officer following drugs search
A 73-year-old man has been sentenced after commanding his dog to attack a police office following a search of his car where drugs were found.
Gary Wilkes (73) of Station Road in Ramsey, appeared at Peterborough Crown Court (sitting in the Peterborough Magistrates’ Court building) on Thursday morning (July 9) for sentencing after pleading guilty to assault of an emergency worker and obstructing a police constable in the execution of duty.
The court heard that on June 17, 2024, at approximately 9:45am Wilkes was driving in Huntingdon when he was stopped by police, with the intention of searching his car under the terms of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Prosecution barrister Robert Brown told the court that after being pulled over the attitude of Wilkes was ‘difficult’ and ‘combative,’ adding that the stepped between officers and his car while instructing his dog to ‘guard.’
An altercation followed in which Wilkes ended up being dragged to the ground where he then instructed the dog to attack by stating ‘get him boy.’
The incident was captured on police body cameras.
The prosecution contended that the police constable suffered ‘very minor injuries’- including a bruise of his leg- but could not state with certainly that the dog was the cause of the injuries.
The defence contended that no injuries were not caused by the dog and argued that Wilkes should not be required to repay any of the £18,775 of kennel costs incurred housing the dog since the incident due to his limited means and the fact that he had not been found guilty of a dangerous dog offence.
As a result of the hearing, however, Wilkes did sign an agreement that the dog- named Kujo- would be wear a muzzle whenever taken out in public.
Recorder Jonathan Dixey sentenced Wilkes for the offences relating to the assault alone on Thursday and handed down a sentence of a community order. He was sentenced for assaulting an emergency worker; with the obstruction offence being taken as an aggravating of the assault offence.
Wilkes was sentenced to a 12-month community order with the requirement to complete 20 rehabilitation days.
Recorder Dixey said: “As the police officers attempted to conduct the search, the defendant was difficult and combative.
"I do not sentence on the basis that the dog caused the injuries but the defendant should be clear that his actions were not acceptable. The officers should not have been subjected to the behaviour he carried out.
"He used the dog with the intention to cause fear and serious harm bu encouraging him to attack.
“I am particularly concerned about this defendant’s anti-police attitudes. I am told he displayed no remorse for what has happens.”
Wilkes was also fined a total of £700 but was not ordered to contribute towards the costs of kenneling the dog.
Offences of possession on a bladed article in a public place and being in charge of a dog this is dangerously out of control were left to lie on file.